Hertha BSC thought they were on the winning track thanks to gooddefending and a stroke of genius against Bayer, but the Werkself, who fielded two 16-year-olds, snatched a point late on and avoided their first away defeat of the season with a 1-1 draw. Nevertheless, Bayer are now winless in four games.
After a messed-up start to the season, Hertha had heralded a turnaround with three competitive game wins in a row, but were then subdued again in a 2-0 loss at Hoffenheim. The Alte Dame not only lost the game, but also Boyata with a red card. Against Leverkusen, coach Pal Dardai therefore brought in his son Marton in central defence and also gave Plattenhardt and Jovetic a chance to prove themselves. Zeefuik (not in the squad) and Piatek (bench) rotated out of the starting eleven.
The starting line-up was almost self-explanatory due to the numerous injuries to the visitors, especially as Wirtz (muscular problems in the hip flexor) was also absent compared to the impressive 4-0 win over Betis Sevilla in the Europa League. Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane sent on Palacios in his place and ordered Demirbay to play on ten.
Much struggle, little rhythm
Sportingly, it was an interesting game, but on balance not particularly entertaining for a long time. Hertha relied on their own defence and hoped for counterattacks, which were not really to be seen, also because Jovetic was often left alone up front. On the other hand, Leverkusen invested more in the game, tried a lot and forced the fast wing play, preferably on the left.
Because the final pass did not arrive on either side, chances worth mentioning remained scarce. Jovetic from distance (7th) and Andrich (11th, 14th) and Serdar (15th, 24th) on the other side at least provided some variety. Overall, however, the contested pairing lacked game rhythm.
After 26 minutes Andrich was already cheering, but was then abruptly stopped. His goal for the supposed 1:0 did not count because the ball had previously crossed the goal line with its full circumference.
Jovetic benefits from Hincapie’s hack
On the other side, Jovetic was again allowed to celebrate: The Montenegrin took a Mittelstädt header wonderfully in the sixteen with his right and finished in a fluid movement with his left to make it 1-0 – Hincapie had wafer-thinly cancelled out the offside with his own heel (42.). So the goal was the highlight of half one and also their final point.
After the change of ends, the game remained intense, with duels dominating the deep and sometimes heavily ploughed pitch. Otherwise, Hertha continued to operate from deep, while Bayer struggled, repeatedly running in and out. Even the substitutions of Sinkgraven and Amiri (for Hincapie and Palacios, 61.) didn’t really help. When Bayer developed danger, it was through Demirbay long-range shots (70., 71.).
On the other side, Hertha pulled back more and more, at times too deep. The home side were present in the duels, but missed the preliminary decision and conceded the reward. In the final minute, there was a free kick for the Rhinelanders: Kossounou involuntarily laid on for Andrich, who chipped the ball past Schwolow at the right five-corner to make it 1-1
Young Bundesliga debutants
The match then went down in Bundesliga annals for two other reasons – and that was because both the second and third youngest Bundesliga players of all time were used in that very pairing. Bravo (16 years and 298 days) was substituted in the 79th minute, then Sertdemir (16 years and 276 days) came on in the 86th – only Dortmund’s Moukoko (16 years, one day) was younger on his debut.
The Berliners then go into the international break with a good feeling, having remained unbeaten against Bayer for the fifth duel in a row – and without conceding a goal. On Saturday, 20 November, Hertha await the explosive city derby at Union Berlin. Three hours earlier, Bayer Leverkusen will dance in front of their home crowd against promoted Bochum.
