"Of course, our expectations are completely different from our current performances. At the moment our game is lacking the necessary confidence and conviction. Now we need to make sure we can do well in the next few games. It will be a tough season," said skipper and goalscorer Lars Bender.
Heiko Herrlich made one change to the starting eleven against Freiburg for the incredibly important game against Hannover 96: Lars Bender returned in place of Aleksandar Dragovic in a holding midfield role alongside Dominik Kohr. Karim Bellarabi returned to Bundesliga action after serving a four-match ban following his dismissal away to FC Bayern. In addition to Charles Aránguiz, Julian Baumgartlinger, Panos Retsos and Joel Pohjanpalo, Paulinho was sidelined as the Brazilian returned to Leverkusen with a groin problem after playing for the Brazil U20s. Jonathan Tah made his 100th appearance in the Bundesliga against Hannover.
impressive start goes unrewarded
Bayer 04 set off full of ambition in excellent conditions with Lucas Alario, Julian Brandt and Mitchell Weiser looking promising as they broke through the visitors' defence in the opening minute. When Felipe turned away a Wendell free kick with his arm in the box, Bayer 04 were awarded a penalty after the VAR was consulted: The Brazilian stepped up but his shot was not hit hard enough to beat the keeper Esser (7'). A blow for the Werkself, who reacted with a determined response: Kai Havertz played a brilliant dummy for the ball to run to Brandt but he was unable to control it in a one-on-one with Esser – annoying (10')!
The visitors found their way into the game after 15 minutes and the match developed into an evenly balanced encounter. And Hannover struck first: Muslija curled a free kick into the net from 20 yards out leaving Lukas Hradecky with no chance to keep out the shot to the corner of net. 1-0 to visitors on 25 minutes. That was swiftly followed by a stroke of luck for the hosts: Hradecky made a brilliant save to keep out a Muslija curler and then Wendell made a last-ditch clearance to prevent Bobby Wood scoring with a tap-in (31') – that was really close.
the captain leads the way
A Niclas Füllkrug headed goal was rightly chalked off as Wood was offside (32'). And then the captain stepped up: Lars Bender volleyed in the equaliser at the far post from a Brandt cross (34'). That goal immediately restored stability to an unsettled Werkself team. The two teams went in level at the break.
There were no changes at half-time. Esser was not really tested with a low drive from Havertz (51'). A minute later, the Hannover keeper was only able to watch as a Brandt header from a Weiser cross flew inches wide of the upright. The visitors then moved up another gear: Felipe made it 2-1 with a volley into the corner of the net with a slight deflection off Jonathan Tah from a corner from Pirmin Schwegler (54') – Bayer 04 were behind again. The goalscorer was then sent off for a second bookable offence on 57 minutes.
Great chance for Kohr
Bayer 04 now had an extra man – and lots of fire in their bellies. Kohr had a great chance to level but Esser was somehow able to get a leg to the shot from the midfielder after he had brilliantly broken through the defence (59'). Hannover reacted to going down to ten men by bringing on defender Kevin Wimmer in place of the striker Wood on the hour mark. Heiko Herrlich extended his attacking options with Isaac Kiese Thelin replacing Kohr on 64 minutes.
Bellarabi levels
The hosts stepped up their efforts. Leon Bailey and Bellarabi replaced Volland and Weiser (75'). A corner form Brandt was met by Sven Bender but his shot went well wide of the target (78'). The same applied to a free kick from Bailey (88'). Four minutes added time. And Bayer 04 had a trick up their sleeves: Bellarabi fired a shot into the left corner of the net to level at 2-2, Lars Bender and Bailey were involved in the build-up – that was the final score.
The Werkself now face a crowded fixture list over the next three weeks. Bayer 04 are next in action in the Europa League on Thursday 25 October, at 18.55 CET away to FC Zürich at the Letzigrund Stadium. That is followed three days later in the Bundesliga by an away game at Werder Bremen on Sunday 28 October at 18.00 CET.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser (Bellarabi 75'), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – L. Bender, Kohr (Kiese Thelin 64') – Brandt, Havertz, Volland (Bailey 75') – Alario
Hannover 96: Esser – Elez, Anton, Felipe – Haraguchi, Schwegler (Bakalorz 80'), Walace, Albornoz – Muslija (Ostrzolek 68') – Wood (Wimmer 60'), Füllkrug
Goals: 0-1 Muslija (25'), 1-1 L. Bender (34'), 1-2 Felipe (54'), 2-2 Bellarabi (90+3')
Referee: Patrick Ittrich (Hamburg)
Booked: Weiser – Felipe, Schwegler, Esser, Albornoz
Sent off: Felipe (57')
Special events: Esser saves Wendell penalty (7.)
Attendance: 26,435
