Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Wolfsburg: Lady Luck Strikes Twice For Hosts

Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 by Goal.com

Leverkusen were easily the better side on the day, but required a pair of defensive errors to down Wolfsburg.

Stumbling league leaders Bayer Leverkusen took to the pitch today with a strong lineup, but a depleted central midfield. Due to Arturo Vidal's suspension and Simon Rolfes' knee injury, Stefan Reinartz and Lars Bender were Jupp Heynckes' first-choice paring in the centre of the park. Eren Derdiyok, who sustained an injury in last week's 1-1 draw with Bochum, was fit to start today, and Heynckes was able to retain his usual 4-4-2 formation.

On the opposite side of the pitch, coach Lorenz-Guenther Koestner was able to call upon Andre Lenz, who had sustained an injury in midweek, to start in goal. Ahead of him, Jan Simunek and Alexander Madlung plied their trade in central defense, and reserve midfielder Sebastian Schinzielorz made his first appearance this season, filling in for Makoto Hasebe in right-central midfield.

Before kickoff, Leverkusen midfielder Toni Kroos was honored with his second consecutive Bundesliga Player of the Month award. The 20-year old Bayern Munich loanee lined up on the left side of Heynckes' midfield. From the opening whistle, Kroos, Bender, Tranquillo Barnetta, and Daniel Schwaab put on a clinical display of technical prowess, maintaining possession with utmost skill and using impressive creativity to probe the visitors' defenses.

Wolfsburg quickly adopted a defensive approach, and did just enough to disrupt their hosts' balance to avoid an early opener. Kroos might have bagged the go-ahead goal on 16 minutes, but his shot was blocked by Madlung. A few minutes later, Kroos was able to put a sharp effort on goal, but Lenz dived to save at his far post.

Shortly before the half hour mark, Wolfsburg were finally able to carve out their first good opportunity on goal, albeit the result of a defensive error. When Reinartz turned to pass to Manuel Friedrich, Edin Dzeko pounced and powered into the left side of the penalty area. He fired on Rene Adler's goal, but the Germany #1 made a great fingertip save.

The difference between the two sides was very easy to see; while Wolfsburg could barely get the ball out of their own half, Leverkusen were able to maintain possession in their attacking third through technical skill and impeccable positioning. By pulling Kroos and Barnetta inward, Heynckes' system was able to use six players in the centre of the pitch who could pass amongst themselves. Fullbacks Schwaab and Michal Kadlec were always available to provide width with overlapping runs that stretched the visitors defenses and created more space in the centre.

Wolfsburg, on the other hand, had neither the technical flare nor the positional organization one would expect from the defending champions. Playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic barely touched the ball, the midfield shuttlers were forced into purely defensive roles, and as a result, service for Dzeko and Grafite was very limited.

Despite the clear differences in quality, neither team was able to break the deadlock before halftime. Attempts from Sami Hyypia (30) and Barnetta (38) were well placed, but Lenz was in position to save both efforts.

Minutes after the halftime break, Leverkusen caught a break from a set piece. Kroos' free kick was easy for Lenz to claim, but the veteran goalkeeper fumbled the ball, and Reinartz was in position to lob into an empty net.

Having been forced to chase the game, Wolfsburg committed more on the offensive end, leaving acres of space behind, which very well suited the Leverkusen attack. Barnetta, Kroos, Derdiyok, and Stefan Kiessling weaved through the space between Wolfsburg's midfield and defense, but inefficient attacking movements coupled with a number of "circus shots" (Derdiyok attempted a pair of bicycle kicks and Kiessling made another acrobatic attempt at the spectacular) prevented the hosts from putting the game out of reach.

Once again, it was a stroke of bad luck that would cost Wolfsburg a goal. On 68 minutes, Derdiyok headed a Barnetta cross off the underside of the crossbar, and the ball slipped in off Lenz's boot.

Things remained much the same for Wolfsburg, who simply could not get the ball to Dzeko or Grafite. Misimovic was forced into such a withdrawn role that the "triangle" he was meant to form with the strikers was rather lopsided, and his service forward could only be over long distance.

When Wolfsburg finally did get the ball to Misimovic in the attacking area, it produced the goal the visitors needed to revive hopes of taking a point. Substitute Ashkan Dejagah slipped Misimovic into the penalty area, and the Bosnian squared for compatriot Dzeko. The powerful striker saw his first shot stopped by a reflex save, but Dzeko was first to the rebound and tapped in.

There were dramatics late after Derdiyok missed a great opportunity to kill off the game. Sascha Riether played a through ball to Josue who, with only Adler to beat, opted to cross for Grafite and overplayed his pass. A minute later, Misimovic unleashed a piledriver from distance, but Adler did well to save.

Seconds before the final whistle, Kiessling missed yet another clear chance, but his team would not play the price and instead went three points clear of Bayern Munich, who play later today.