Bayer Leverkusen carelessly gambled away a 2-0 lead for the second time within three days and negligently left important points in the battle for the Champions League behind. Despite another double from top scorer Patrik Schick (37th / 63rd) in the Bundesliga duel against TSG Hoffenheim, the Werkself only managed to score 2: 2 (1: 0) due to two late goals.
After Schicks goals 15 and 16 of the season, Angelo Stiller (80th) and Munas Dabbur (83rd) gave the Hoffenheim team, who had been disappointing to date, the point out of nowhere with their double hit. Leverkusen, which Moussa Diaby (90 + 2) lost late with a yellow-red card and who had already lost a 2-0 lead in Frankfurt on Sunday, remains third with 28 points, TSG is lurking one point less behind Fourth place.
“It was the same start as against Frankfurt, then we get a goal and break in straight away. We have to work on our mentality, because that’s not just bad luck,” complained Schick Sky.
The fact that Leverkusen lost a 2-0 lead last time in Frankfurt and went under did not panic with Gerardo Seoane before the game: “It is nothing other than normal that there are ups and downs. The average has to be right – and it is right “said the Swiss.
Hoffenheim defended very well at the beginning, which Leverkusen made use of and created first, high-quality chances. First top striker Schick confused the ball completely free in front of Oliver Baumann after just 86 seconds. Then young international Florian Wirtz, who on Wednesday at 18 years and 226 days replaced Giovanni Reyna as the youngest Bundesliga player with 50 appearances, scored the ball from an offside position supposed leadership (5.).
Bayer tried to play the guests in front of 13,272 spectators in the BayArena again and again with passes in the depth, without initially causing further risk of goals. In the middle of the first half, Piero Hincapie was unlucky when he hit the post (28th). Baumann had no problems with Schick’s header a few minutes later.
Hoffenheim with a late double strike
Up until that point, Hoffenheim was only noticed by a lot of nodding and a few discussions with referee Tobias Stieler. Christopher Richards headed the first good chance of the guests on the crossbar (35th).
In return, Schick then used the technically skilled direct acceptance test for a fully deserved tour. Before the break, Baumann, by far Hoffenheim’s best player, prevented worse things with successive parades against Schick and Wirtz.
After the break, Leverkusen had a little luck and Hradecky, who was there against Andrej Kramaric (50th). Baumann parried against Karim Bellarabi on the other side (59th). Then Schick did a lot better with a header.
The equally brilliant Wirtz (69th) and Moussa Diaby (72nd) left more opportunities. In the meantime, Kramaric had hit the crossbar before Stiller and Dabbur brought TSG back into play.
Bayer Leverkusen – TSG Hoffenheim: The voices
Gerardo Seoane (coach Bayer Leverkusen): “It was an attractive game. We have to be reproached for not making the 3-0 out of the many chances. We showed a good performance over the 90 minutes. We also had one or the other good chance with fast balls. If you lead 2-0 in the 80th minute and then give it away, you are of course disappointed. “
Sebastian Hoeneß (Trainer TSG Hoffenheim): “It said top game, it was top game. We have the first chance, otherwise the first half went to Leverkusen. In the second half things turned. We come out of half time well, have two or three good opportunities. Then Leverkusen strikes in the style of a top team. Then we don’t give up and turn the game around. That makes me proud and happy. “
