Sports draw against Stuttgart
“Crazy” – At the last second, Leverkusen averted their first defeat of the season
Status: 27.04.2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
In the 46th competitive game of the season, Bayer Leverkusen is facing its first defeat. But in a game that was spectacular, especially after the break, the champions managed a draw against Stuttgart. Afterwards there is trouble with the referee.
After the Leverkusen team saved their super series with another show of strength, they were celebrated by their fans like winners. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team owed the fact that Bayer remained unbeaten even after winning their first championship title in the Bundesliga early to a successful comeback and a last-minute goal in the 2-2 (0-0) draw against VfB Stuttgart by national player Robert Andrich (90th + 6). Due to the draw on Saturday, the factory club can no longer set the record for points in a season, but that hardly dampened the Leverkusen team’s joy.
“It was important that we were at the forefront. We wanted the next goal at all costs, and then we believed in it until the end and played forward,” said Andrich afterwards on Sky: “That shows that the team didn’t want to lose the game.” Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky said: “Amazing, I don’t have the words for it.”
Coach Alonso was also very impressed by his team’s renewed energetic performance. He himself was emotional on the sidelines: after his fourth yellow card, the Spaniard is suspended from the next league game in Frankfurt.
Redemption in injury time: Robert Andrich (front right) celebrates his goal to make it 2-2
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
Bayer had made up a 2-0 deficit against third-placed teams and remained undefeated in their 46th competitive game of the season. “We played such a strong game that it hurts extremely,” said VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel.
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The new national players Chris Führich (47th) and Deniz Undav (57th) gave the guests a 2-0 lead. Amine Adli (61st) shortened the score and Andrich scored the final point. However, Bayer can only reach 90 points at the end of the season. FC Bayern’s points record of 91 points from the 2012/13 season will therefore remain. The first season without defeat is still possible for Bayer after 31 league and 46 competitive games and a year with various records. On Thursday, coach Alonso’s team has to play in the semi-finals of the Europa League at AS Roma.
VfB before Champions League entry
After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, Stuttgart, like only Borussia Dortmund, remained unbeaten in both games against the new champions and consolidated third place. With a seven point lead over fifth place and three games left, the team that was almost relegated in the last two years probably doesn’t have to rely on the possible exception of five Bundesliga teams in the premier class in the fight for a place in the Champions League.
Both teams were missing the most important stabilizers in midfield in Granit Xhaka and Angelo Stiller. And the respect for each other was huge. Alonso had previously described VfB, which had brought his team closer to defeat than almost any other team in the 1-1 draw in the first leg and the 2-3 draw in the cup quarter-finals after leading twice, as “one of the best teams in Europe in this one Season” ennobled.
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And as in the previous two games, the Swabians stood up to the champions from the start. They sought salvation in an offensive orientation and aggressive style of play and initially even had significantly more possession of the ball. That was almost rewarded in the 14th minute when VfB striker Serhou Guirassy headed centimeters past a cross from Leonidas Stergiou from seven meters. Leverkusen’s first big chance even came from a counterattack when Alejandro Grimaldo was first denied by Stuttgart’s keeper Nübel and Patrik Schick clearly volleyed the second attempt over (29′).
VfB got off to a lightning start in the second half. Jamie Leweling hit the post from a tight angle and Führich converted the rebound 68 seconds after the restart. Nine minutes later, Undav beat Andrich in the duel between the national players and scored his 18th goal of the season.
Stuttgart’s striker Deniz Undav celebrates his goal to make it 2-0 in Leverkusen
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
Now it became a wild exchange of blows. Guirassy missed the 0:3 (60′), a few seconds later Adli shortened the score. Bayer now pressed with all their might, but Nübel held on outstandingly against Adli and in the follow-up shot against Jonas Hofmann (65th).
In the 74th minute, Alonso brought on the long-rested Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface. The Leverkusen team increased the pressure – and were actually rewarded for it in the end. The Bayer team scored seven goals in stoppage time in the Bundesliga alone, six of which resulted in wins or draws.
However, Stuttgart’s coach Hoeneß was angry afterwards about the late equalizer and how it came about: “There are two arms in Anthony Rouault’s back (VfB defender, i.e. Red.), and then a ball goes to the hand. For me the goal has to be disallowed. But at least it needs to be looked at. It’s clear to me that it shouldn’t count.” Referee Felix Zwayer should have gone out and watched the scene on the video screen. “It can’t be that he doesn’t check it again with such an important goal.”
And Deniz Undav, a national player for VfB, shouted mockingly on the way into the dressing room: “Great referee, best referee”.
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