Tayfun Korkut rang the changes on matchday 32 against Ingolstadt replacing the injured Julian Brandt, Jonathan Tah (both with muscle problems), Ömer Toprak (foot) and Lars Bender (ankle) plus Hakan Calhanoglu (CAS ban). He made five changes to the side that faced Schalke for the relegation clash with FCI: Benjamin Henrichs and Aleksandar Dragovic came in for Toprak and Roberto Hilbert (bench) in the back four, Julian Baumgartlinger replaced Kevin Kampl in defensive midfield and Admir Mehmedi and Kai Havertz replaced Brandt and Karim Bellarabi (bench).
Few chances in first half
The tension of a relegation battle was evident in all 22 players from the kick-off. The hosts pressed and played the long-ball game. A cross from Florent Hadergjonaj on the right was headed over the bar by Mathew Leckie from six yards out on three minutes. The Werkself stood firm and countered with the first chance falling to Dragovic with a header on six minutes. The two teams then cancelled each other out over the course of the first half. The 14,400 fans at the Audi Sportpark witnessed a hard-fought game with lots of niggles and little goalmouth action.
The first real excitement came on 36 minutes: Bernd Leno made a brilliant point-blank save to keep out a header r by Ingolstadt’s Marvin Matip from a corne but he was kicked in the face by Leckie during this move. The Bayer 04 shot-stopper suffered a bloody nose and had to be treated. The resulting scrum did not result in a red card for any Ingolstadt players. The two teams went into the half-time break all square at 0-0.
Kießling misses chance, Havertz levels
The match became much more entertaining after the restart. Baumgartlinger picked out Stefan Kießling in the opposition box with a fine pass on 52 minutes. The Bayer 04 stalwart wanted to curl his shot into the far corner but his effort went just wide of the Ingolstadt net. The Werkself remained on the front foot but found it difficult to create clear-cut chances against a solid Ingolstadt defence.
A setback followed: FC Ingolstadt took a surprise lead on 73 minutes with substitute Sonny Kittels finding the back of the net. It did not take the Werkself long to get back on terms. Havertz made it 1-1 on 78 minutes with a header from a Wendell corner.
Ingolstadt’s Suttner saves on the line
The strike gave the Black and Reds a boost with substitutes Leon Bailey and Kevin Kampl lighting up proceedings. Kevin Volland missed the chance to give the Werkself a 2-1 lead on 82 minutes. Baumgartlinger provide a pass and Volland rounded the FCI keeper Martin Hansen but Suttner rushed back to clear the ball off the line. A lucky escape for the hosts. The Werkself pressed forward again in the closing minutes but were unable to find the winner. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bayer 04 entertain FC Köln at the BayArena on the penultimate matchday on Saturday with all Bundesliga matches kicking off at 15.30 CET .
Match stats
FC Ingolstadt: Hansen – M. Matip, Brégeríe, Tisserand – Hadergjonaj, Cohen, Christiansen (Lex 84’), Suttner (Leipertz 90’) - P. Groß, Leckie (Kittel 46’) – Lezcano
Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Jedvaj, Dragovic, Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Aránguiz (Kampl 78’) – Havertz, Mehmedi (Bailey 74’) – Kießling, Volland
Goals: 1-0 Kittel (73’), 1-1 Havertz (78’)
Booked: Leckie / Aránguiz (seventh yellow card), Volland (third), Henrichs (first)
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)
Attendance: 14,351
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