Late leveller from Tah in 2-2 draw with Union

There was good news for Bayer 04 ahead of the game: After a total of 314 days on the sidelines, Timothy Fosu-Mensah was in the Werkself line-up for the first time since his torn cruciate in March of last year. In addition, youngster Sadik Fofana was in the senior squad for the first time – he started on the bench.

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made four changes to the side that started in the 2-1 defeat at Freiburg. Piero Hincapie, Paulinho, Moussa Diaby and Mitchel Bakker, making his comeback to the side, came in for Odilon Kossounou (Africa Cup of Nations), Charles Aranguiz (calf muscle injury), Amine Adli and Daley Sinkgraven (both on the bench). In addition to Kossounou and Aranguiz, Seoane had to manage without the injured Julian Baumgartlinger plus Edmond Tapsoba (also in the Africa Cup of Nations), Exequiel Palacios (back problem) and Nadiem Amiri (positive Covid-19 test).

Luthe makes double save for Union

The Werkself started the game well. After ten minutes, there was no sign of the winter break affecting their legs however there was a lack of accuracy: A cross from Diaby from the right found the head of Patrik Schick. The effort from the Czech Republic striker was too central allowing the Union keeper Andreas Luthe to make a save. Seconds later, Florian Wirtz broke through from the edge of the box but the Union keeper was again on the spot (11'). The Black and Reds had the upper hand in the first 15 minutes but failed to convert that superiority into goals.

Schick scores opener – Prömel equalises

The visitors hardly managed to make headway up front due to the outstanding the defensive work by the Seoane team – after losing the ball, Kerem Demirbay and Co. immediately pressed as a group to regain possession. Leverkusen continued to press for the opening goal. Initially there was a lack of inspiration in the final third. That made the joy even bigger when the deadlock was broken minutes before half-time: First, Diaby was kept out by Luthe after a great one-two with Paulinho but Schick was able to convert the rebound from a tight angle to give the Werkself a 1-0 lead (38').

But that was not score at the break. Union hit back out of the blue on the stroke of half-time: Lukas Hradecky twice made brilliant saves to deny Christopher Trimmel and Kevin Behrens but the Finland keeper was helpless with the third attempt from Grischa Prömel – 1-1 (45').

Prömel strikes again – Luthe makes brilliant save

The second half did not start well for the Werkself: A Trimmel cross from the right flank found Max Kruse in the box and he first made a sidestep and then picked out his teammate Prömel. The 26-year-old just had to stick his foot out to turn the ball into the net from five yards out to give the visitors a 2-1 lead with Hradecky standing no chance of making the save (50').

The Black and Reds refused to be bowed but were unable to find a quick response – even though there were chances: Schick (62'), Hincapie (63') and Paulinho (65') all had promising chances but either their finishing lacked accuracy all they were denied by the impressive Union Berlin keeper Luthe. From a Demirbay corner, Paulinho rose highest and forced the visitors' keeper into making a sensational reflex save (69').

Tah rescues point for Bayer 04 

Seoane reacted from the dugout by bringing on two fresh attackers in Karim Bellarabi and Amine Adli (for Demirbay and Paulinho). However, Bayer 04 were fortunate that a long-range effort from Kruse did not end up in the back of the net but instead hit the bar. Shortly after that, the efforts of the Werkself were finally rewarded: Bellarabi crossed from the byline to the six-yard box where Jonathan Tah was in the right place to head home the leveller at 2-2 – a deserved equaliser (84'). The Black and Reds looked to score the winner but were no longer able to create the openings. At the other end, Hradecky made an impressive reflex save to keep out Andreas Voglsammer (89') and, shortly before the final whistle, a shot from Bastian Oczipka hit the outside of the post.

The Werkself took one point from the opening match in the second half of the season against Union Berlin. Diaby and Co. are back in action on Saturday, 15 January (kick-off: 18.30 CET) with the Bundesliga evening match at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong (Alario 83’), Tah, Hincapie, Bakker – Andrich, Demirbay (Bellarabi 77’) – Diaby, Wirtz, Paulinho (Adli 77’) – Schick

Union Berlin: Luthe – Jaeckel, Knoche, Friedrich – Trimmel (Ryerson 77’), Khedira, Prömel (Möhwald 71’), Gießelmann (Oczipka 26’) – Haraguchi (Öztunali 46’) – Kruse, Behrens (Voglsammer 46’)

Goals: 1-0 Schick (38’), 1-1 Prömel (45’), 1-2 Prömel (50’), 2-2 Tah (84’)

Booked: Tah – Trimmel, Friedrich

Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck (Freiburg)

Attendance: 0