The Bundesliga held his breath. This Saturday at La Bayarena, Leverkusen, the last credible bulwark against Bavarian hegemony, was imperative to win to relaunch a race for the dying title. But despite technical and physical domination, the Werkself came up against a wall named Neuer, a heroic defense and … their own demons (0-0). With this draw, Bayern retains its advance of eight points in the lead and flies around a 12ᵉ crowded, while Leverkusen, now at ten lengths, sees his hopes evaporate.
Leverkusen as master, but without realism
From the start, the premises sent their law. Florian Wirtz, omnipresent, clocked the offensives, while Nathan Tella came close to the feat. In the 21st minute, the Nigerian crucified the transverse of an acrobatic recovery after a center of Hincapié. Then, Jeremie Frimpong, served by a dazzling breakthrough, also found the bar with a whim (21ᵉ), leaving Manuel Neuer beaten but saved by iron. The German goalkeeper, however in difficulty on these occasions, reassured later, especially at aerial exit against Wirtz (83ᵉ).
Faced with this storm, the Munichois, deprived of creativity, did not align any shot on 90 minutes. Harry Kane, isolated, vegetated, contenting himself with an offside head (45ᵉ+1) symbolizing Bavarian helplessness.
Despite 59 % of possession, Bayern seemed to be extinct, undergoing 15 shots (including 5 framed) and 9 corners 9. Xabi Alonso has deployed an oiled mechanics: Frimpong and Grimaldo harassed the corridors, while Xhaka and Palacios locked the middle . The offensive changes (Adli for Tella in the 85ᵉ) were not enough to unravel a heroic Bavarian defense, carried by Dayot Upamecano, solid despite a yellow card (74ᵉ).
Pragmatic kompany, bayern tactically sterile
Vincent Kompany, aligning four post-Celtic Glasgow changes, opted for a low block and rapid transitions. In vain. The entries of Sané and Goretzka (68ᵉ) have not changed anything: Musiala, muffled, and olise, ineffective, disappeared. Only Kim Min-Jae shone, saving his team on the line after a Tella's head (66ᵉ).
The title moves away for Leverkusen
This draw devotes Bayern leader, undefeated in 18 matches. Leverkusen, now at 10 lengths, sees his hopes of title fly away. Wirtz's teammates remain on five games without victory against the Bavarian giant, a black series for Alonso.
