Bayer Leverkusen shook its way late to a 5-2 (1-0) win at SV Sandhausen on Wednesday (November 1st, 2023). The decision was made shortly before the end with three goals from Adam Hlozek (85th) and Amine Adli (88th/90th). Exequiel Palacios (21′) and Jonathan Tah (54′) had previously scored for Bayer. The hosts equalized a deficit twice with Christopher Ehlich (50th) and Yassin Ben Balla (57th).
Sandhausen complains about a missed penalty
“In the end it was a typical cup game. We are happy that we are through”, explained Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso at the Sportschau microphone. The Bayer coach was dissatisfied with a phase in the second half: “We lost control for about 15 minutes.”
His counterpart Jens Keller had a bit of a problem with the lack of a video assistant: “If the VAR had been there, we would have had a little better luck. I think we can get a penalty and I was told that Leverkusen’s third goal was offside. ” Nevertheless, his team played a “great game”. In the cup there is only a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from the round of 16 onwards.
Palacios puts Bayer in front
Bayer’s coach Xabi Alonso rotated compared to the Bundesliga and rested many of the regulars at the beginning. Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong initially found themselves on the bench. Adli was allowed to start, among other things. He then had the first chance after 60 seconds, but was denied by Nikolai Rehnen in the Sandhäuser goal.
Rehnen was then there against Adam Hlozek (14th) – but the hosts didn’t hide either: Bekir El-Zein was just blocked by Josip Stanisic. After 20 minutes, Alexander Fuchs committed a foul against Adli in his own penalty area. Palacios safely converted the penalty. Until the break, Bayer was now highly superior without creating any great chances.
Sandhausen comes back twice
The second half began with a bang: Ehlich completed a strong counterattack by SVS to equalize and awakened new hope in the Hardtwald stadium. At first the joy only lasted four minutes. Because Tah put Baxer back in the lead with a header. Anyone who thought that Leverkusen would be superior again was deceived: Ben Balla headed in after a corner to equalize again.
Leverkusen was now having a hard time and Alonso reacted: with Xhaka, Wirtz, Frimpong and Grimaldo, four nominal starters came into the game. But Bayer continued to act without ideas. The hosts, on the other hand, increasingly sensed their chance of a surprise. El-Zein tested Matej Kovar in the visitors’ goal (79′). After that, Bayer was lucky that a foul on David Otto didn’t result in a penalty.
Adli decides the game
For the Match winner Then Adli advanced: first Hlozek dusted him off after a header, then he was there twice himself and saved Bayer from extra time against Sandhäuser, who fought with sacrifice.
For Leverkusen, the Bundesliga continues on Saturday (November 4th, 2023) at 3:30 p.m. at TSG Hoffenheim. SV Sandhausen welcomes 1. FC Saarbrücken in league three on the same day at 2 p.m.