The eleven of Bayer Leverkusen, which was heavily re -shaped at the beginning of the new season and was busy with the brand new coach Kasper Hjulmand, reached a happy draw at its start to the Champions League. The Werkself played 2: 2 (0: 1) at FC Copenhagen.
Surprisingly, but consistently played through, FC Copenhagen took the lead early. Leverkusen’s defense had lost sight of Jordan Larsson (9th). Because nothing really worked in terms of play yet, a standard situation had to help: Alex Grimaldo prevented the Bayer elf from a defeat with a wonderful free kick in the 82nd minute (82nd). Then substitute Robert Silva (87th) met with a header, but the late substitute Argentinian Claudio Echeverri provoked an own goal of Copenhagen’s defender Pantelis Hatzidiakos (90.+1).
“Fortunately we come back to 2-2”said Bayer goalkeeper Mark Flekken after his first Champions League appearance to the sports show, but also knew: “If they play a little better in the end, you will lose it anyway.” His boss, sports manager and ex-professional Simon Rolfes said: “We didn’t defend well at the goal and were too passive overall. We have to improve.” As a positive aspect, he added: “The activity was significantly higher afterwards, and so we were able to push Copenhagen in the back.”
Too much “scan”, far too little access
The leading goal of the Danes fell in a phase that is generally titled with “scanning”. The Copenhagen captain Thomas Delaney, well known from Bremer, Dortmund and Hoffenheimer Bundesliga times, quickly promoted a ball from the midfield to the left side. The left rail player Elias Achouri let himself drive to the baseline and chipped the ball back to the penalty area center. Jordan Larsson was guided there, and while the Leverkusen defense was still mentally felt when it was palpated, the nominal right wing turned the cross to 1-0.
Leverkusen won only one chance in the first half hour despite much more possession of the ball: after a free kick promoted by Azerbaijani referee Alijar Aghajew, standard shooter Alex Grimaldo, well promoted over the Danish box.
For this, it became dangerous if the hosts could quickly switch from their own half. But once Bayer was defended (33rd against Huescas) and once a cross from Mohamed Elyounoussi dripped on the crossbar without really getting dangerous.
Gloss attack by flekken against Moukoko
Leverkusen had huge happiness shortly before the break: the game was quickly made by the Danes. Elyounoussi alluded to the completely free -standing Yousouffa Moukoko at the penalty point from half right. But the former German child prodigy shot the ball too unplaced on keeper Mark Flekken in his first Champions League game. The goalkeeper tore up his right arm and fended off the shot, which must be clearly written as a 100 % chance. Shortly before the break, Grimaldo pulled off the distance again, but missed the goal again.
Game after the change of sides more open
After the change of sides, the character of the game continues. The guests from the Rhineland had more parties, the Danes were lurking on switching moments, even increasing to press higher.
This in turn brought Bavarian Leverkusen space for his own attacks. And after about a played hour, the best chance for the Germans came about. Elise Ben Seghir took a heart on the penalty area, but only hit the right outdoor post.
The next chance for the guests followed five minutes later when Patrik Schick came to an end. But the Leverkusen attacker also shot too centrally on the goal, Dominik Kotarski was able to clarify for the home side.
With Leverkusen the connection is missing
When comparing the Copenhagen, which was certainly not a European elite, it became clear that the Dane Hjulmand did not have much time in the short time of his work in Leverkusen to put a stamp on the team. World -class players such as access Lucas Vazquez from Real Madrid looked anything but good at the goal. Captain Robert Andrich in midfield was – as always – very committed, but could hardly set any accents. This is how center forward was too often in the air in the front, routinner Grimaldo produced no danger, especially in his standards – but once!
Because after a foul on Schick, Grimaldo caught the ball 24 meters in front of the goal and did not miss this chance this time. With the right, the Spaniard conjured up the ball over the wall and, with the help of the bottom edge of the latte, achieved the happy balance.
“I hope that we don’t need him too often with his free kicks” said Leverkusen’s captain after the game about Grimaldo: “It’s a force.” It was only last Friday in the Bundesliga game against Eintracht Frankfurt, Grimaldo scored twice from a similar position. “Now one free kick after the other is getting in, that’s a quality that is very little in Europe”Andrich continues.
Dramatic final phase
When Robert with his head after a cross from the right side achieved the leadership of the Danes, the “parking” cheered in the Danish capital. But Leverkusen showed a bit of his old skills of “Laterkusen” – Echeverri fueled on the left and wanted to play the ball into the center. Hatzidiakos went to the ball and directed him with his thigh into his own goal.