0-2 – Bayer set the tone after just 09 seconds against BVB

Felix Ulrich reports from the Signal Iduna Park

80,667 in a sold-out Signal Iduna Park (including 6500 Leverkusen fans) saw a game that entered the history books of the Bundesliga because never before has a goal been scored so quickly. Overall BVB tried hard throughout but found it hard, particularly in the first half, to come to terms with the visitors’ system. In the second period BVB certainly went up a gear, stronger in the tackle and quicker but for the most part attacks came up short on the edge of the box.

The Scenario:

The only time in the last six years that BVB had not won their season opener was against the same opposition on 22 August 2010. Since Jürgen Klopp has been in charge the overall record against Bayer is positive having lost just two of the twelve encounters albeit both at home. Bayer, who arrived having won 3-2 in Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday were tough opposition as Klopp had declared ahead of the game, “Bayer have always been awkward customers for us, but we have been for them, too! Going into this game we aren’t thinking about where we are in our training programme but who of the two teams can hurt the other most on the field.”

Personnel Matters:

Jürgen Klopp was at pains to actually find a proper professional squad for the game. Missing were Kirch, Schmelzer, Ramos, Sahin, Gündogan, Kuba and Hummels, all injured while the participation of Durm and Weidenfeller was doubtful until shortly before kick-off with Durm starting and Weidenfeller taking a place on the bench. New signings Immobile and Ginter started for the Black n Yellows while Lars Bender was unavailable for the visitors.

Tactics:

Both coaches had experimented with various formations in pre-season. BVB had triumphed in the Supercup against Bayern (2-0) employing a flexible 4-3-1-2 whilst in the Cup against Stuttgarter Kickers (4-1) opting for a 4-2-3-1. Today BVB lined up in a 4-4-2 “diamond” formation with Aubemayang and Immobile up front, Reus tucked in behind. Bayer coach Roger Schmidt stuck with the system that had brought success in Copenhagen, namely a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The Game and Analysis:

The game could scarcely have started worse for BVB. From the kick-off, with many fans still finding their way into the stadium, Bayer launched an attack down their left involving Calhanoglu, Son and Boenisch the latter finding Bellarabi (back from Braunschweig) on the edge of the box with a pass that allowed the striker to nutmeg Ginter and toe-poke the ball past Langerak just before Durm could get in a saving tackle. The quickest goal in the history of the Bundesliga… nine seconds! The goal eclipsed Giovane Elber’s 1998 strike and Ulf Kirsten’s 2002 goal each coming after eleven seconds.

Borussia did not seem to allow this untimely setback affect them too much and strove to get forward, but with little success. Ginter sent a header goalwards on 4 minutes but Leno gathered easily and so a pattern developed for the first half with BVB trying hard but finding a hard-working Bayer eleven impossible to break down.

There was something missing in the final third. Immobile, Aubameyang and Reus simply failed to get into the game while at the back the defence had their hands full with a Lebverkusen side that were here, there and everywhere. It could, in fact, have been 2-0 so easily when a Calhanoglu free-kick fizzed wide on 18 minutes.

Jürgen Klopp looked to change things at the break and BVB emerged in a 4-1-4-1 system which was intended to carry more of a goal threat whilst calming things down at the back. The change worked. BVB now dominated and threatened down both flanks but the final ball was just proving elusive with a defender always popping up to thwart or a pass just going astray at the crucial moment.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, and with the BVB offensive flagging a little, Jürgen Klopp shuffled the pack once more introducing Hofmann and Großkreutz for Reus and Jojic. Bayer were now content to try to break up any flow in the game with tiny, niggly fouls in the middle of the park and never threatened to get close to Langerak’s goal.

A BVB corner saw Leno spectacularly save a Ginter header on 84 minutes and he was once again on the spot to deny Immobile with two minutes of regular time remaining. That chance signalled a frantic final period with BVB throwing everyone forward but only having one Aubameyang chance to show for it. At the other end, Bayer broke out of the stranglehold to score a second through Kießling.

Bundesliga, Matchday 1

BORUSSIA DORTMUND – BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-2 (0-1)

Borussia Dortmund: Langerak – Piszczek, Sokratis, Ginter, Durm – Kehl – Jojic, Mkhitaryan – Reus – Aubameyang, Immobile

Bayer Leverkusen: Leno – Jedvaj, Toprak, Spahic, Boenisch – Castro, Rolfes – Bellarabi, Calhanoglu, Son – Kießling

Substitutions: 74. Hofmann and Großkreutz for Reus and Jojic - 62. Reinartz for Rolfes, 76. Brandt for Son, 80. Papadopoulos for Calhanoglu

Goals: 0-1 Bellarabi (1., Boenisch), 0-2 Kießling (90.+5, Bellarabi)

Corners: 8-5 (HT 2-2), Chances: 3-3 (1-2)

Referee: Aytekin (Oberasbach), Yellow Cards: Jojic - Jedvaj, Toprak

Attendance: 80,667 (sold out), Weather: bright, 17 degrees

Prospects:

The draw for the German (DFB) Cup was due to take place after the game (games to be played on 28/29 October) whilst on Thursday the eyes of the football world will turn to Monaco for the Champions League draw. A day later BVB travel to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga (kick off 2030 CET).