At the infamous De Kuip in Rotterdam, the crowd goes from deafeningly loud to noticeably quiet. Bayer pulls the plug on Feyenoord – and proves its quality in a 4-0 away win.
Actually, it was business as usual. Before the kick-off, the bass boomed so loudly and extensively through the Rotterdam stadium that you couldn’t understand your own words. And after the kick-off, there was no more hardstyle beat to be heard, but instead the whipped-up, even frenetic crowd, who were eager to cheer their Feyenoord team forward. So the De Kuip lived up to its reputation again this Thursday – but only for a relatively short time. Then it fell more and more silent.
Why? Because Bayer quickly turned out to be a mood killer, scoring after five minutes through Champions League debutant Florian Wirtz to make it 1-0 and taking advantage of further mistakes, some of them big, to score three more times before half-time. “It was clear,” said managing director Simon Rolfes, “that Feyenoord wanted to generate energy and power with the crowd.”
Five shots on target until 4-0
The Werkself broke this will in the first half with their cleverness in overcoming the aggressive, man-oriented pressing, their composure and their strength in finishing – in the style of a top team. They needed only five shots on target before half-time, by which time the score was 4-0.
The Bayer professionals and management were all delighted with this outstanding efficiency, which was a crucial factor in Leverkusen’s first victory in this Champions League season. However, the Werkself needed other qualities to slip into the role of mood killer. Especially against the ball.
Of course, this extremely well-drilled team, which is geared towards controlled possession, also had phases of play in Rotterdam in which it held the initiative by virtue of its ball circulation, in which it attacked high up and exerted pressure.
R olfes and Xabi Alonso praise Bayer’s defensive work
But this time there were also a number of phases in which they dropped deep, waited for the quick counter-attack and otherwise had to focus on energetic, clear defending. A special situation and an “interesting, important experience,” as coach Xabi Alonso summarized.
“We know that we can’t just attack in the Champions League,” he explained. ‘We need stability and discipline.’ And the willingness. Bayer did concede twelve shots on target, didn’t always seem completely secure and, especially at the beginning of the second half with a big lead behind them, seemed to become a little too passive – at which point Rotterdam came close to capitalizing on their efforts.
In the end, however, they kept a clean sheet. Sometimes because of an offside call, sometimes because of a save by goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky. Or because ultimately they held out consistently in the box.
Bayer’s coach will find further approaches
And so Rolfes was satisfied: “We defended more attentively. Dangerous situations can always happen, but you need the will to defend with all your might. That’s what we did,” he said, summing up what he saw as ‘a good step forward’. True enough. Especially after the clearly too faulty start to the season.
All in all, Bayer’s performance against the Dutch team, which was prone to defensive errors, was therefore quite complete: the Werkself attacked purposefully and effectively – often enough – and alternated between high, pressing in attack and deep defending, sending a strong signal with this first victory in the new premier class.
Xabi Alonso also described Leverkusen’s performance as “very respectable”, although the Basque, known for his perfectionism, will of course find important starting points for the next few weeks in this duel.
Aleix Garcia should provide more structure again
The fact that his team became a little more careless and hectic with the ball, especially at the beginning of the second half, will certainly not have pleased him – as a result, he brought on summer signing Aleix Garcia, a third central midfielder, who should provide more structure again.
The fact that his team can show even more activity even when defending deep is another point. And in any case, what Schienenspieler Jeremie Frimpong said after the final whistle applies: “We can’t sit back.”
There are still seven more games to come in the Champions League. Games in which Bayer wants to qualify for the knockout phase. At least Leverkusen’s European journey has got off to a successful start – and can be considered a role model in terms of efficiency and commitment. The infamous De Kuip will have to be silenced first.
