Hello, my name is Max Francis and I will be guiding you through the highly anticipated and exciting top of the table clash between Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen and Thomas Tuchel’s German giants Bayern Munich.
It’s debatably Leverkusen’s most important game of the season. A win at home at the BayArena to continue their unbeaten run would do incredible wonders for Alonso’s men. However, for Bayern, a loss away to top of the league Leverkusen would dampen hopes of their 12th Bundesliga title in a row.
How both teams line up:
1′ – After a few disruptions with objects being thrown on the pitch, here we go at the BayArena!
5′ – An even contest so far between the two giants. Both teams are slowly easing into the game but it’s Bayern Munich who have got the closest to an attack so far.
9′ – So far, it’s been all Bayern Munich with all the possession and the constant pressure whenever Leverkusen have the ball. Alonso’s men seem to be looking to do damage to Bayern o the counter attack whenever they have the chance. They’ve done well to stop Bayern’s dangerous front three so far.
Embed from Getty Images11′ – The first shot on target goes to Bayer Leverkusen with Adli’s shot easily being tamed by Hradecky. The duo between Adil and Tella will be crucial for Leverkusen to get a famous win tonight.
13′ – Leon Goretzka receives the ball outside the box, leans back too much and blasts the ball into the stands.
18′ – GGGGGOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!! LEVERKUSEN HAVE LIFT OFF AT THE BAYAERNA! Andrich looks up, tries to find a crossing option, whips the ball in on his left through the legs of Upamecano cross the 6 yard box which sets up a tap in for Josip Stanisic to score against his former club. Bayern are looking very venerable on when hit by a counter attack.
23′ – SAVE BY MANUEL NEUER! Bayern simply can not handle Leverkusen right now! A perfect long ball is made to Florian Wirtz who strikes the ball with a ferocious volley first time which is saved by the German.
26′ – Alonso’s men are pressuring Bayern tremendously whenever they have the ball. Tuchel’s men are really struggling so far. Can they find a way to comeback?
27′ – Bayern go on the attack as Noussair Mazaroui has a shot at goal, but once again, it’s easily handled by Hradecky. Positive attack for Bayern who are trying to find a equaliser.
Embed from Getty Images33′ – A free-kick whipped in by Leverkusen but a foul is given the other way as the ball was kicked.
34′ – Granit Xhaka is down in pain and receiving treatment. Would be a massive blow for Leverkusen if the Swiss international can’t continue.
Embed from Getty Images36′ – YELLOW CARD FOR SACHA BOEY! The Frenchman goes in hard into a tackle on Andrich which makes him go into the referees book.
40′ – Piero Hincapie goes for glory and tests his luck with a long shot which is put miles over the bar.
42′ – FANTASTIC DEFENDING BY UPAMECANO! Adil receives a brilliant through ball from the half way line and is through 1 on 1 with Manuel Neuer, but Upamecano’s blistering pace helps him stop Adli from looking certain to put his team two goals up.
45′ – There are two minutes of added time at the BayArena.
HALF-TIME: Bayer Leverkusen take the lead at home going into the break from a great cross from Andrich across the six yard box for Stanisic to score against his former club. The game could be done and dusted if it wasn’t for Upamecano’s heroic defending to stop Adli from putting his team two goals up. Can Leverkusen kill the game off? or can Bayern find a response?
45′ – We kick-off for the eager second half.
50′ – GGGGOOOAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! ALEX GRIMALDO PUTS LEVERKUSEN TWO GOALS UP! Tella puts a absolutely stupendous and perfectly weighed through ball to split open the Bayern Munich defence for Alex Grimaldo who blasts the ball past the shoulders of Neuer and finishes in the roof of the net to get his EITGH goal of the season from left back. The Spaniard is having the season of his life. Alonso’s tactics have worked perfectly. 2-0 Leverkusen.
59′ – Nathan Tella receives the ball, dribbles past Kim Min-Jae and blasts a shot with his right foot which is calmly taken care of by Neuer.
60′ – SUBTITUTIONS! Upamecano and Pavlovic make way for Muller and Kimmich.
62′ – YELLOW CARD FOR GORETZKA! Leon Goretzka gets in the book for a big shoves Adli to the ground which leaves the referee no choice but to put him in the book.
64′ – YELLOW CARD FOR TAPSOBA!
65′ – Offside for Nathan Tella but he receives a great through ball to put himself through on goal but he places the ball wide.
65′ SUBTITUTION FOR LEVERKUSEN! Nathan Tella who got the assist for Leverkusen’s second goal makes way for Jermie Frimpong. Can the Dutchman who’s having a amazing season make a impact?
69′ Stanisic denies Musiala for having a strike which would have been crucial for Bayern Munich. The young German has been non existent tonight. Once again, Alonso’s plan is working perfectly.
Embed from Getty Images71′ – SUBTITUTION FOR BAYERN MUNICH! Leon Goretzka makes way for eighteen year old Mathys Tel. A tactical change for Tuchel to stop Goretzka from getting a second yellow and also an attacking change.
73′ – Jermie Frimpong uses his quick feet to get past Min-Jae and puts in a cross past the six yard box with no one on the other end of it.
77′ – YELLOW CARD FOR ADLI! Adli makes a dangerous tackle on Kim Min-Jae which, on another day, could have potentially seen red. The Frenchman has ridden his luck there.
Embed from Getty Images81′ – DOUBLE SUBTITUTION FOR BAYERN MUNICH! Eric Choupo-Moting and Raphael Guerreiro come on for Jamal Musiala and Sacha Boey.
83′ – YELLOW CARD FOR HRADECKY! The Finland international goes in the book for time-wasting.
84′ – Six minutes left here at the BayArena and Bayern Munich have not enjoyed it one bit. They’re still struggling to deal with Leverkusen on and off the ball.
Embed from Getty Images88′ – FRIMPONG HITS THE POST! Stanisic and Frimpong attack Bayern down the right side with lightning pace, Stanisic makes the through ball to Frimpong who strikes it on his right foot which comes off the post.
89′ – DOUBLE SUBTITUTION FOR LEVERKUSEN! Goalscorer Alex Grimaldo and Florian Wirtz make way for Adam Hlozek and Gustavo Puerta.
90′ – There will be 5 minutes of added time here at the BayArena. Will we see some late drama?
90+5′ – OOOHHHH MYYYY WWWOOORRRDDDDDD!!!! IT’S 3-0 TO LEVERKUSEN!!!! Jermie Frimpong gets the ball from his own half, runs with lightning pace, sits down Guerreiro and shoots the ball from around 40 yards out with Neuer no where to be seen as he stepped up for the corner. Incredible way to end the game.
FULL-TIME: It’s over at the BayArena with Leverkusen beating Bayern Munich 3-0 at home. Bayern could not handle Leverkusen tonight as Alonso’s tactics stopped the likes of Harry Kane and Musiala from having any scratch at goal. Stanisic opened the scoring with a tap in which really killed off the game then.
