Bayer Leverkusen takes a big step towards the championship by beating FC Bayern 3:0 (1:0). The guests are a huge disappointment.
With great astonishment, some of the numerous international press representatives observed what happened on Carnival Saturday in the sold-out BayArena. Before the kick-off of the Bundesliga top match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, fans hurled sweets and smaller objects onto the pitch, causing the game to start eight minutes late.
“The DFL has nothing to trade here,” read one poster. It was another protest against the DFL’s investor plans, this time on the big stage. The German league summit was broadcast in more than 200 countries.
Viewers in Germany and other parts of the world were surprised by what they saw during the game. That’s because league leaders Bayer Leverkusen thoroughly outplayed the serial champions from Munich, underlining their title ambitions with a 3-0 (1-0) victory over FC Bayern.
After eleven consecutive championships, the shockingly weak Bavarians have probably met their match for the first time. Xabi Alonso’s team was superior to the guests in many respects. Leverkusen remain unbeaten in their 31st competitive game this season and extend their lead over Bayern to five points.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel faces discussions
It was a heavy defeat for Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. After this game, the discussions about him will intensify. Before the kick-off, he still appeared confident in an interview with Sky. “It feels like it could be one of those evenings when you, as a team and collectively as a club, can take the next step.” But instead, his team took at least two steps back. In this form, Tuchel’s Bayern will remain without a title this season.
In the first 15 minutes, it looked as if two evenly matched teams would face each other as expected. Leverkusen initially left the ball to Bayern, but the visitors were unable to create any danger. After that, the North Rhine-Westphalia club shifted up a gear, took the initiative and struck immediately.
Josip Stanišić, of all people, scored the opening goal in the 18th minute. The Bayern loan player, who is currently on loan at Leverkusen, powerfully headed a cross from Robert Andrich into the net while unmarked. An attentive Bayern defender was nowhere to be seen in this scene.
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That was the starting signal for the hosts’ best phase, who played their usual powerful offensive game. Nathan Tella (23′) and Jonathan Tah (24′) had further opportunities. When Leverkusen increased the tempo, Bayern often couldn’t keep up. On the other hand, Alonso’s game plan was also working. The English superstar Harry Kane was completely written off, the record champions didn’t have a single chance in the first 45 minutes. A poor performance for Bayern.
After the break, things got even worse for the visitors. Leverkusen didn’t wait this time, but went straight for the front. And again, everything went much too fast for the sedate Bayern defense. A one-two between Alejandro Grimaldo and Tella leveraged the entire defense and Grimaldo left Manuel Neuer no chance from a tight angle (50th). The national team goalkeeper was fit in time for the Bundesliga top game, but was powerless to stop his team from being dominated by a better opponent.
FC Bayern unable to create danger
Thomas Tuchel then tried a few changes. World Cup winner Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich, whom Tuchel surprisingly left on the bench at first, came on after an hour. The German national players were unable to turn the game around either. Leverkusen was closer to a 3-0 lead in some phases than Bayern was to scoring.
Substitute Jeremie Frimpong hit the post in the 88th minute and then made his big appearance. In the 95th minute, the winger scored into the empty Bayern goal, with Manuel Neuer having moved up for a corner. Bayer Leverkusen players embraced, they won well deserved. After eleven years of Bayern dominance, it now looks as if the championship trophy could go to a different place again for the first time on the 34th matchday.