Match Report Leverkusen

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

11.11.2006

Bayern closed to within three points of top spot after snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with two late goals in a match of fluctuating fortunes at the BayArena.

The 22,500 full house at the BayArena saw a lively opening from both sides, although clear-cut chances were few and far between until Hasan Salihamidzic rifled home the opener from 15 yards just after the half-hour mark.

The double winners looked comfortable for a time but were rocked by half-time sub Stefan Kießling's close-range equaliser just three minutes after the restart.

Rousing finale

The home side dominated for a spell, but the Bavarians appeared to have weathered the storm when Athirson, on for the injured Bernd Schneider, side-footed Bayer into the lead with just ten minutes remaining to usher in a dramatic finale.

Bayern produced the perfect response when Martin Demichelis headed his side level four minutes later, and there was still better to come as Claudio Pizarro lashed home the winner four minutes from time.

The result means the champions close the gap on joint leaders Bremen and Schalke to three points, but perhaps more importantly, will face the future with confidence soaring after the morale-boosting fight-back.

Sagnol returns

The visitors showed just one change to the side defeated at home to Hanover in midweek, fit-again Willy Sagnol resuming duty at right-back with Salihamidzic pushed forward into midfield and Ali Karimi dropping to the bench.

Lucio was still an absentee for Bayern, but his fellow Brazil centre-half Juan was passed fit to appear for Michael Skibbe's side, who also welcomed back veteran warhorse and captain Carsten Ramelow from injury.

Pizza comes closest

Once referee Markus Merk had whistled play underway, the opening exchanges featured a number of slick passing moves and inventive ideas from both teams, certainly pleasing on the eye but producing little by way of goalmouth action.

Bayern were a different proposition from the listless, static side which slumped in midweek, as the busy Salihamidzic and alert van Bommel prompted and probed, ably supported down the flanks by Sagnol and 23rd birthday boy Philipp Lahm.

Claudio Pizarro threatened Hans-Jörg Butt in the Bayer goal right at the start and then again midway through the half after Juan's schoolboy error, but the Peru man's best chance came on 28 minutes with a near-post flick which whistled inches over the bar.

Brazzo on target

At the other end, Martin Demichelis had to be alert to clear a Bernd Schneider cross, and the Reds were relieved when Croatia man Marko Babic' 32nd minute drive sailed wide.

The champions opened the scoring a minute later after Roy Makaay's intelligent lay-off from van Bommel's surging run and cross, leaving Salihamidzic to smite the ball home from the edge of the box.

Van Bommel came agonisingly close to adding another after a Butt mistake and Pizarro might have done better with a late header as the Reds cruised towards half-time, but the Bavarians were caught cold when the teams reappeared after the interval.

Sub's leveller

The second period was only three minutes old when Swiss starlet Tranquilo Barnetta loosed off a swerving drive Oliver Kahn could only parry into the path of half-time sub Kießling, who only had to stick out a foot and equalise.

The goal sparked a spell of Leverkusen pressure, but Demichelis and Daniel van Buyten stood tall and the Reds threatened occasionally on the break, Pizarro rifling just wide after 67 minutes.

Butt had looked nervous all afternoon and the keeper's hesitation almost let in Makaay five minutes later, but the shot-stopper claimed Sagnol's thumping drive comfortably enough.

Fantastic finish

Kießling blasted into the side-netting in a flurry of action towards the end before Athirson appeared to have won it with a late strike, but Demichelis' well-headed equaliser followed with just six minutes to play as Bayern roused themselves in the face of defeat.

That was not the end of it as Pizarro wrestled his way through a crowd of players to blast past Butt four minutes from time, and Bayern clung on to seal a thrilling and potentially so important victory.

Chris Hamley reporting from the BayArena for fcbayern.de</b