This is a must win, on paper one of the bigger tests remaining in the schedule and a win would go some way to restoring some confidence and stop the rot. 3 points here and at the very least challenging strongly right until the end should be possible. Anything less and the challenge will be quickly fading.
LF has an interesting lineup: Weigl next to Witsel, Götze at #10 behind Paco. Diallo at LB doesn't inspire confidence as usual because Hakimi is on the right. No more screwing around as Sancho and Raphael are the flanking AMs. Oh and Akanji is back next to DAZ!!! I suspect Akanji will be subbed out at some point and either Dahoud or Delaney depending on the score will come in to push Weigl back.
I like the lineup except Diallo at LB. But I'm not sure that there is enough creativity coming from the CM. Both are good passers, though and Leverkusen won't just sit back. I hope Bosz plays the high line we saw from his Dortmund days but he already mentioned that it is working better with Leverkusen's players. It seems that Leverkusen is using a midfield that is more defensively sound than what was used in the previous games with Brandt on the wing again.
We are being thoroughly outplayed. Dahoud is badly needed for this game. Our midfield with Gotze, Weigl and Witsel is too static. Hopefully Leverkusen tire.
Leverkusen is more playing like the league leader at home but they also didn't have clear chances, in fact, the few chances for us were in better positions. If I want to be positive, we are playing for counter chances to exploit their high line. But we are in a good phase right now. And now Zagadou scores.
Leverkusen equalizes and Sancho answers right away with a fantastic volley. We allow too much in defense though. Their attacks through Havertz and Brandt are a joy to watch.
If Alcacer sees Guerreiro, that's probably the third goal right before the half. 2:1 at halftime against a strong Leverkusen is a good result so far after Leverkusen dominated the first 20 minutes. Their game against Bayern already showed that if you don't convert your chances, they are capable of punishing you. Our rather slow and static midfield has problems whenever Leverkusen make their combinations with runs and speed. But that would be hard to defend for most.
They've had more possession and spent more time in our third but we've been more dangerous. Also Barca loaned us one player and sold us a completely different one. Paco can't even hit the goal.
Game ends 3:2. Very important to end the winless streak against a good team. Bürki had some nice saves, otherwise this could have been another Hoffenheim. There was often too much space left on the wings. These holes are concerning but overall the team did good. Witsel is starting to make too many mistakes. We didn't see that in the first half when he barely lost a ball. I hope that's only a bad phase for him. I hope Reus comes back soon so that we'll get back to our strongest team. The next teams won't be that offensive minded like Leverkusen.
Sancho showed great spirit to rally the fans at the end. Everything goes through Sancho and we are lucky that he has unbelievable composure for a young player.
Marco Reus back in team training and should be able to play against Augsburg. I would like the next week to play out like this: we hammer Augsburg, BMG does us a solid and batter Bayern. Then we destroy Spurs at home. Meanwhile Bayern get squashed against Liverpool.
i disagree... but only in that I want us to just roll out with a squad that doesnt matter against tottenham.. take the loss. Theres no way we score 3 much less keeping them scoreless as well or else we would need 5 since they would win a 4-1 match with away goals putting them in.
It's not like Spurs are having an excellent season. They've laid the occasional egg so why not against us away?