1st matchday in the CL
© Imago
Football madness in Copenhagen: Kasper Hjulmand suffered the first dampers when he returned to his home in the first away game as a new coach of Bayer Leverkusen. At the Danish Doubles winner FC Copenhagen, the German runner-up after a crazy final phase with three goals in ten minutes did not get over 2: 2 (0: 1) to the Champions League start.
A great free kick goal by Alejandro Grimaldo (82nd) and the last minute compensation by an own goal of Pantelis Hatzidiakos (90.+2) preserved Hjulmand and the long disappointing workself from a setback. Former Schalke professional Jordan Larsson (9th) and Robert (86th) had taken the FCK twice in the lead.
The new Bayer coach Hjulmand had certainly imagined his return to the site of earlier success as a Danish national coach. “Of course this is a special game in a special place. But when the game starts, it’s a game like any other,” Hjulmand said before the game in parking, where he had also experienced tragic. The current Wolfsburg Christian Eriksen had suffered a cardiac arrest four years ago at the European Championship. According to his own information, the successor to the Erik Ten HAG, who was in Leverkusen early, had hardly dealt with the memory of the traumatic experience of 2021 and instead wanted to focus on football. “Let’s experience a special night and celebrate a football party,” said Hjulmand.
He got it, at least in the end – but different than expected. With his Champions League comeback as a trainer after 13 years, the start went right next to it. After less than ten minutes, Larsson put the FCK in the lead. Edmond Tapsoba had the son of the former Swedish national striker Henrik Larsson run. After a good 20 minutes, Hjulmand became noticeably active on the edge of the field for the first time, tried to give his team structure and order. Bayer initially did not take big chances.
Curious final phase between FC Copenhagen and Bayer 04
The Rhinelander had major problems, especially in defensive midfield. There the Robert Andrich and Ezequiel Fernández, which were blocked in the league, preferred. Above all, captain Andrich acted unhappily and lost many balls. From one of these switching situations that Copenhagen always implemented excellently, the former Dortmunder Youssoufa Moukoko almost shot the 2-0 shortly before the break, but failed on the class-reacting Bayer keeper Mark Flekken.
“Of course, not everything can work,” said sports director Simon Rolfes before the game at “DAZN” with regard to the huge upheaval in summer. Bayer had given a number of top performers and also lost master coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. “We want to build a new title team. However, it will not reach their maximum this season either.” In fact, the current Leverkusen team has little to do with the formidable team that had won the double last year.
Also with Aleix García on the double-six next to Andrich for Fernández, it was initially not better for Leverkusen after the break, which continues to be difficult against the Danes, which had little more than commitment and will. After all, Leverkusen reared up again and pressed the equalizer late. It actually achieved a standard. As in the 3-1 win over Frankfurt in the league, Grimaldo scored the curious final phase, in which both teams met again.