Thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over defiant Bochum, Bayer Leverkusen climbs back to Champions League fourth place, at least for the time being.
Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes compared to the 1-1 draw at Hertha BSC before the international break: Instead of Hincapie, Palacios and Paulinho (all bench), Sinkgraven, Amiri and Wirtz started. Strikers Schick and Alario were not yet in the squad after their injuries.
Bochum coach Thomas Reis made one forced change after the 2-0 home win against Hoffenheim. Antwi-Adjei replaced Blum, who had injured his thigh.
Adli scores early – Wirtz misses 2:0 twice
The game got off to a lively start. As early as the 2nd minute, Rexhbecaj hit the far post with a long-range shot. Almost in direct contrast, Bayer took the lead on the opposite side: After Frimpong’s cross, Riemann was only able to stop Adli’s header just behind the goal line (4th minute). As the match progressed, it was an open encounter in which both teams quickly bridged the midfield. Leverkusen were a little more forceful. The released Wirtz headed just past the post in the 16th minute – and also missed by a whisker in the 39th minute.
But VfL also had chances. After a curious corner by Demirbay, which landed exactly in the path of Antwi-Adjei, VfL counter-attacked. In the end, Asano was blocked just in time (26th). In the 38th minute it was Asano again, who – after a mistake by Tapsoba – missed clearly with a volley.
Tah in luck – VfL committed
Just before the break, Tah was lucky that a subsequent VAR review of a scene of a one-on-one with Antwi-Adjei, who was brought down after contact in the Leverkusen penalty area, did not result in a penalty decision (43rd). Thus, the Werkself, who had been more forceful offensively, went into halftime with the lead.
After the break, Bochum – not least through the agile Asano – had a clear advantage in terms of shots. Bayer, however, remained more dangerous: After Wirtz had already missed free in front of Riemann (57th), the joker Paulinho, who had only just been substituted, also failed in a one-on-one with the VfL goalkeeper (78th). Thus, the score remained close until the end, but due to the higher quality of the chances, it was a deserved 1:0.
The Leverkusen team already has a Europa League home match against Celtic Glasgow on Thursday before the trip to Leipzig on Sunday. Already on Saturday, Bochum will host Freiburg.
