Bayer Leverkusen’s title defense took a hit on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw at Wolfsburg, falling eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
Bayern extended their winning streak to seven matches with a 3-0 triumph over Werder Bremen on Friday, putting additional pressure on Xabi Alonso’s side ahead of their crucial clash with the leaders next Saturday.
Leverkusen’s manager made several changes to his lineup, with key players Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick, and Jeremie Frimpong all starting on the bench after their midweek exploits in a 120-minute German Cup win over Cologne. Without the trio, Leverkusen struggled for rhythm and were made to pay for missed opportunities.
Nordi Mukiele had the best chance to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute but headed over from point-blank range, unmarked. The introductions of Wirtz and Frimpong after the hour mark did little to spark a change, as Leverkusen dominated possession but couldn’t convert.
Wirtz had a controversial penalty shout in the 77th minute after going down in the box following light contact, but the referee, after a VAR check, waved away the appeals. In stoppage time, Wirtz had another chance to win it but blasted just wide.
Leverkusen’s failure to secure all three points means they’ve dropped four points in their last three league matches, leaving their hopes of defending their title hanging by a thread.
Captain Lukas Hradecky expressed frustration at the widening gap to Bayern, saying, “The eight-point difference is much bigger than it should be. This weekend hasn’t made it easier for us to achieve our dream.” He stressed the importance of next Saturday’s home clash with Bayern, saying, “With the way Bayern are playing right now, we have no option but to win.”
Alonso, however, played down the growing gap, saying he wasn’t “overly worried.” He added, “We’ll have a break and start preparing on Tuesday. Playing Bayern at home is a top game with top atmosphere. We’re focused on what we can control.”
– Kovac’s debut spoiled –
Niko Kovac’s debut as Borussia Dortmund’s head coach ended in disappointment as Stuttgart secured a 2-1 victory at Signal Iduna Park, moving up to fourth place.
Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav and Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi both had chances in the first half, but it was Stuttgart’s Waldemar Anton—who joined Dortmund from Stuttgart in the summer—that opened the scoring in the 50th minute. Jeff Chabot doubled the lead in the 61st with a stunning volley for his first Bundesliga goal.
Julian Brandt pulled one back for Dortmund late on, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat to Stuttgart. Kovac, who replaced Nuri Sahin in January, acknowledged his side’s effort but criticized poor decision-making, saying, “The boys gave it their all. We shouldn’t have left the field as losers.”
– Other results–
Freiburg moved up to sixth with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Heidenheim, thanks to a first-half header from Vincenzo Grifo, continuing their push for European football.
Union Berlin boosted their survival hopes with an emphatic 4-0 win at Hoffenheim. Benedict Hollerbach scored twice, with Marin Ljubicic and Andrej Ilic also finding the net. The result moved Union 10 points clear of Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.
In other matches, Mainz and Augsburg played out a goalless draw, while Borussia Mönchengladbach hosted third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt in the day’s final match.
