VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen missed an exclamation mark in the fight for international business. The zero number on Sunday evening (April 16, 2023) reflected the level of performance quite aptly.
“It wasn’t a highlight game. But we’re in the middle of a very intense time right now.”said Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky afterwards: “The chances were there, of course I would have liked to win. But Koen Casteels held up well, it’s a good result.”
Wolfsburg’s defensive player Josuha Guilavogui was satisfied overall: “We know that Leverkusen have a very good series, they are one of the best teams in the league for me. That was a good performance from us.”
Five-fold rotation by Xabi Alonso
Bayer coach Xabi Alonso had rotated to five positions compared to the 1-1 draw in the Europa League against Union Saint Gilloise and, among other things, put national player Florian Wirtz on the bench. The creativity of the Leverkusen game suffered drastically as a result, but little enlightening came from Wolfsburg’s midfield either.
For almost half an hour it was very heavy fare, which the spectators in the Autostadt were treated to by two European aspirants. In the 28th minute, there was an acoustic signal, but Sardar Azmoun’s cross from a Jeremy Frimpong cross would not have been enough to lead, even with a little more precision – Azmoun was ruled offside.
Kaminski and Gerhardt with chances
However, this scene had an effect in that Wolfsburg then invested more in moving forward. Two minutes after Azmoun’s advance, Jakub Kaminski’s shot from a wide cross by Paulo Otávio was just blocked (30′). Four minutes later, Otávio was the assist again when Yannick Gerhardt headed the ball, but he didn’t get an assist because Gerhardt heaved the ball over the bar.
VfL also had the first chance after the change of sides, but Omar Marmoush was saved from a slightly too acute angle by Lukas Hrádecký in the Leverkusen goal. Hrádeckýs versus Koen Casteels, meanwhile, had a largely quiet evening, only having to save in the 54th minute against Moussa Diaby, who had made a free start.
Wimmer provides stimulation
For the Wolves, trainer Nico Kovac brought in Patrick Wimmer twenty minutes before the end, who also provided some stimulation. The Austrian failed twice at Hrádecký (72′ and 83′), before things got tight again shortly before the end: Casteels cleverly shortened the angle against Diaby and thus saved his team at least one point (89′).
Leverkusen initially required in the Europa League
Before things continue in the Bundesliga, the “Werkself” are challenged in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 9 p.m.).
On Matchday 29, VfL Wolfsburg is visiting Bochum (Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Leverkusen welcomes RB Leipzig the following day (5:30 p.m.).