Bayer Leverkusen have their big goal for the season, the Champions League, very close in mind.
Coach Gerardo Seoane’s team easily won 2-0 (1-0) against Eintracht Frankfurt and also benefited from the parallel blunder of fellow competitor RB Leipzig at Borussia Mönchengladbach. As a result, the Werkself are third and four points ahead of fifth with two games to go.
“It was a tough game. It’s a very important win for us,” said Sardar Azmoun on “DAZN”. Paulinho (18′) gave the Werkself, who last played in the premier class in the 2019/20 season, the lead. Top scorer Patrik Schick (51st, according to video evidence) scored his 22nd goal of the season shortly after the restart – only Stefan Kießling (25 goals in 2012/13) scored more times in a Bayer dress in one season.
Frankfurt remained harmless three days before the semi-final second leg in the Europa League against West Ham United.
“It will be a close race to the end,” Seoane said before the game to fight for the premier class. On Saturday evening, SC Freiburg temporarily closed the gap to the Werkself on points with a 4-3 win over TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim and increased the pressure.
Eintracht Frankfurt without ideas against Bayer
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner rotated his starting eleven in his 100th Bundesliga game with a view to the Europa League. Only goalkeepers Kevin Trapp, Lucas Tuta and Filip Kostic remained from the starting line-up of the first leg (2-1) in London.
And this rotation was noticeable from the start. Leverkusen dominated the game in front of 26,492 spectators in the BayArena without creating any chances in the first quarter of an hour. In contrast to many other games this season, the Rhinelanders used the first opportunity. After a nice outside instep pass from winger Moussa Diaby, Paulinho pushed in from close range.
The goal in no way boosted the uneventful encounter. Frankfurt still didn’t do anything for the game, the still superior Bayer didn’t create any further chances at first. The supposed 2-0 from Schick (34th) was withdrawn after video evidence because of an offside position.
Shortly before the break, Robert Andrich only hit the side netting. Jens Hauge shot the only Frankfurt goal past the goal of unemployed Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
After the break, Schick’s renewed goal celebration was initially interrupted after a nice pass from the conspicuous Diaby – after video evidence, referee Benjamin Cortus (Röthenbach) awarded the goal. Frankfurt remained in energy-saving mode, Leverkusen didn’t have to do more than necessary until the end. The strong Azmoun failed with a long-range shot by Trapp (71st).