Bayer professional shoots himself
Champions League candidate Bayer Leverkusen did not get beyond a draw in the west duel at VfL Bochum. Coach Gerardo Seoane’s team drew 0-0 with Revierklub in a balanced game on Sunday. However, the Rhinelanders remain third in the table even without a win and still have the qualification for the premier class in their own hands. A penalty goal by Moussa Diaby in the 65th minute didn’t count because the 22-year-old from Leverkusen slipped and shot himself while taking it.
Bochum took another step towards relegation in the first home game since the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach was canceled due to a cup thrown in front of 25,000 spectators in the Ruhr Stadium. With a ten-point lead over the relegation place, the promoted team can plan for another year in the Bundesliga.
With a large poster saying “Sieg oder Becherwurf”, the Leverkusen fans once again referred to the scandal on March 18th. VfL has installed additional video technology to quickly convict potential perpetrators in the future. In addition, the stadium announcer once again pointed out that throwing beverage cups is not part of fan culture. There was applause from the stands.
Leverkusen international Jonathan Tah was injured after half an hour. Mitchel Bakker came on for the central defender. Despite the bad news, Bayer took control and developed a playful advantage in midfield. However, the final allusion to the top was often too imprecise. The Werkself didn’t manage to stage their top striker Patrik Schick, who made his comeback from the start after being substituted on last weekend. Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann was not seriously challenged. The people in front tried to counterattack, but often didn’t move up fast enough. A long-range shot by Danilo Soares, which smacked the Bayer goal’s crossbar, was by far the greatest chance of the first half (42′).
After the change of sides, Leverkusen withdrew a bit. Bochum now had advantages, but Leverkusen almost took the lead. Referee Felix Zwayer awarded a penalty after Eduard Löwen, who had just come on, fouled Paulinho. Diaby also scored, but the goal didn’t count. Something similar happened to Cologne’s Florian Kainz in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup when FC lost to Hamburger SV.
Bochum then came closer to scoring the winning goal than Bayer 04. However, striker Simon Zoller also failed to score the decisive goal on his celebrated comeback after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture seven months ago.
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