The penalty kick in injury time was the main topic of discussion after the match between FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen. The player who was fouled has a clear opinion on the scene.
On Friday evening, FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen played a top match that deserved its name for long stretches: chances on both sides, a lot of pace and excitement were on the agenda. In the end, however, the talk was mainly about one scene shortly before the end of the game: The penalty kick in favour of the visitors from Leverkusen.
Alphonso Davies brought down Jonas Hofmann in his own penalty area in the third minute of injury time, and referee Daniel Schlager decided on a penalty kick, according to the pictures. The fouled player himself did not see a controversial decision or a “soft penalty”, as Thomas Müller, for example, put it. “For me it’s clearly a penalty,” Hofmann told DAZN. “Of course I put my body, my foot in front of it and in that moment he gives me a punch down below.” The Leverkusen attacker had “really no doubts at all” about the correctness of the decision.
Hofmann: “That really was a top game “
Hofmann also touched on the 92 minutes before the decisive scene. “For us on the pitch it was intense, a high level,” he said. “For the spectators it was an awesome Friday night. I think the expectations were met by both teams.” Hofmann saw a “game of equals” and concluded, “Everyone can be satisfied with the 2:2. Respect to both teams, that was really a top game.”
The draw meant that the Werkself defended their lead in the standings. Equal on points, but with the worse goal difference, the opponents from Munich are lurking behind. Now both teams have to play in the European Cup, Leverkusen receives the Swedish club BK Häcken in the Europa League on Thursday, Bayern plays against Manchester United the day before. Next weekend, the battle for the top spot in the table goes into the next round, albeit at a distance.