"We tried everything and were rewarded for that in the end. It was very difficult making a comeback against the compact Hertha defence. This point gives us a real boost. And now it's good we're going into the international matches and have the chance to take a break," said captain and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Following the 4-0 victory over Real Betis in the Europa league, Bayer 04 went into the game in the capital with an unexpected handicap: Head coach Gerardo Seoane had to manage without Florian Wirtz who was unavailable due to a hip problem. The Germany international was replaced by Exequiel Palacios who played alongside Robert Andrich in holding midfield with Kerem Demirbay moving further up the pitch. In addition to Wirtz, Lucas Alario was ruled out with a knock and the injured Mitchel Bakker, Patrik Schick, Charles Aránguiz, Karim Bellarabi, Julian Baumgartlinger and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were also sidelined. The two 16-year-old U19 players Iker Bravo and Zidan Sertdemir started on the bench.
In spite of all the personnel problems, the Werkself had high hopes ahead of the clash with Hertha despite only one point coming from the last four Bundesliga meetings without a single goal. On the heavy pitch at the Olympic Stadium, worsened by heavy rainfall before the start of the match, the game developed into an end-to-end encounter with lots of challenges. The Berlin side had the first shot on goal but Lukas Hradecky had no problems saving the effort from distance by Jovetic (7'). Under the eyes of Germany coach Hansi Flick, Bayer 04 also tried to score from distance: Robert Andrich hit a drive from 30 yards out but the ball flew a yard past the post (9').
Shortly after that there was a greater threat with a fast break away from Jeremie Frimpong down the right flank but his cross into the penalty area was not met with enough force by Andrich (11'). At the other end, Hradecky pulled off an impressive save to keep out a shot from Suat Serdar to the near post (25'). Andrich did then succeed in finding the back of the Hertha net – but the ball was over the byline before Amine Adli put in the cross (26'). When Marton Dardai misjudged a through ball and Moussa Diaby got to it on the six-yard box Santiago Ascacibar almost turned it into his own net but Alexander Schwolow was able to save (31').
Bayer 04 worked hard covering back with Paulinho, Diaby and Adli all putting in a shift. The visitors were unable to prevent Hertha taking a lead into half-time: After winning an aerial duel, Jovetic shot with his left foot on the turn and slotted the ball into the top corner – Hradecky stood no chance and the goalkeeper was just onside (42'). Piero Hincapie’s heel was inches closer to his goal than Jovetic so the effort counted.
Without an established centre-forward and Florian Wirtz, the Werkself lacked power up front but Leverkusen players obviously had to increase their attacking efforts after the restart. A shot from Demirbay from the edge of the penalty area just missed the target (52'). Bayer 04 attempted to camp out in the Hertha half but the hosts waited for their chances on the break: Jovetic was far too hasty with a really good opportunity (55'). Gerardo Seoane made a double change on the hour mark: Nadiem Amiri and Daley Sinkgraven came on for Palacios and Hincapie (61').
An Andrich header from a Demirbay corner flew over the top of the target (66'). Demirbay tried again with a powerful shot with his right foot but the ball also flew over the bar (70'). A minute later, the Werkself number 10 hit a left-foot shot but Schwolow was able to punch the ball away – Adli's follow-up shot went over the bar and was ruled offside (71'). Bayer 04 played their last attacking card with Iker Bravo coming on for Paulinho to make his Bundesliga debut (79').
Leverkusen appeared to be trying in vain. After Bravo, Zidan Sertdemir also made his first appearance in the Bundesliga (86'). Leverkusen did have something left in reserve: A Demirbay free kick was unintentionally played on by Odilon Kossounou to Andrich who lobbed the ball over Schwolow from close range into the net to make it 1-1 (90'). The joy at this last-minute equaliser in the pouring rain was massive – for the players and the 1,000 travelling fans.
For Bayer 04, who remain unbeaten away from home, there are two home games after the international break. The Werkself play VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 20 November with the kick off at 15.30 CET. That is followed five days later by the Europa League match against Celtic at the BayArena on Thursday, 25 November at 18.45 CET.
Match stats
Hertha Berlin: Schwolow – Pekarik, Stark, M. Dardai, Plattenhardt – Ascacibar (Tousart 80’), Serdar – Richter (Jastrzembski 88’), Darida (Boateng 80’), Mittelstädt (Ekkelenkamp 88’) – Jovetic (Selke 73’)
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong (Kossounou 86’), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie (Sinkgraven 61’) – Andrich, Palacios (Amiri 61’) – Diaby, Demirbay, Paulinho (Bravo 79’) – Adli (Sertdemir 86’)
Goals: 1-0 Jovetic (42’), 1-1 Andrich (90’)
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen)
Booked: Darida – Palacios, Demirbay, Diaby
Attendance: 22,187
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