Volland double seals 2-1 win in Düsseldorf

Rudi Völler commented on the win at Düsseldorf: "Picking up six points within a few days obviously does us good. But it's also clear we need to have two good halves against Dortmund. The desire to get over tiredness was there today. May that continue. It could be the start of a little run."

Heiko Herrlich indicated he was going to make one or two changes to his starting eleven given the continuous run of fixtures – and he made three from the side that played Mainz on Sunday. Tin Jedvaj played at right back in place of Mitchell Weiser, Kevin Volland replaced Julian Brandt on the wing and Isaac Kiese Thelin came in for Lucas Alario up front. Herrlich set up his team to face a Fortuna side that sat back in tight formation with the intent of playing on the break after winning possession. "Above all, we played with the same commitment and passion on the pitch as in the last two games against Mainz and Rasgrad," declared the coach.

Hradecky in limelight

It took just four minutes for the first keeper to be the focus of attention. Düsseldorf moved the ball well through the Werkself defence with two one-twos finding Benito Raman unmarked in front of Lukas Hradecky but the Finn kept his clean sheet with a sensational reflex save when he raised his left arm to turn the ball away for a corner. Less than two minutes later,  the keeper pulled off the next great save to turn a volley from Hennings onto the post on six minutes. Fortuna started on the front foot and Leverkusen were warned.

The first chance for the visitors soon followed. Jedvaj broke down the right flank but Volland and Dominik Kohr failed to connect with low cross from the Croat (12'). Then the impressive Düsseldorf side pressed forward again and it was Kohr, who made a lot of important challenges throughout the game, that managed to block an effort from Raman in the box with his foot on 20 minutes. When Raman fired in a left-foot shot on 33 minutes it went just past the top corner. Bayer 04 lacked precision and the ability to find a team-mate with a pass to pose a threat to the Düsseldorf net. Then there was a fright when Kai Havertz received a heavy blow to the ribs requiring treatment on 36 minutes. The youngster was able to play on. There was more excitement just before half-time when there was a mass confrontation after an involved challenge  between Raman and Havertz. Referee Manuel Gräfe issued three yellow cards in a flurry to Havertz, Ayhan and Bailey. The two sides then went in all square at 0-0 at half time.

game of two halves

At the start of the second half there was a like-for-like substitution for the Werkself with Mitchell Weiser coming on for Tin Jedvaj. And the lead for Leverkusen followed: Michael Rensing was only able to push a placed low drive from Havertz round the post and the resulting  corner saw Bailey head towards goal where Volland was on hand to turn the ball into the net from close range – 1-0 on 50 minutes. Shortly after that, Havertz put Bailey through on the left but the Jamaican opted a mixture of a shot and a cross – no danger (52'). But Bayer 04 stuck at it and coolly doubled the lead: Volland converted an outstanding assist from Kai Havertz with a header into an empty net – 2-0 on the hour mark. The match was a complete turnabout from the first half as the Werkself moved up several gears at the right time.

Herrlich then brought on Brandt for Havertz (65') and he again made some great moves. The captain went off on 71 minutes with Aleksandar Dragovic replacing Lars Bender. Bayer 04 now controlled the ball, the opposition and the game. Hradecky held on to a Marvin Duckschs cross (81'). Fortuna did pull a goal back in added time when referee Gräfe awarded a penalty for Jonathan Tah making slight contact with Niko Gießelmann: Hennings left Hradecky with no chance with a penalty fired into the corner of the net (90+3'). The 3,000 Werkself fans were able to celebrate shortly after that: The third win on the bounce was secured.

Bayer 04 face Borussia Dortmund next in the top game on Saturday 29 September.The match at the BayArena kicks off at 18.30 CET.

Match stats:

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Rensing – Zimmermann, Ayhan, Kaminski, Gießelmann – Sobottka – Zimmer (Usami 74'), Morales, Stöger (Ducksch 65'), Raman (Lukebakio 58') – Hennings

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Jedvaj (Weiser 46'), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Kohr, L. Bender (Dragovic 71') – Volland, Havertz (Brandt 65'), Bailey – Kiese Thelin

Goals: 0-1 Volland (50'), 0-2 Volland (60'), 1-2 Hennings (pen., 90+3')

Referee: Manuel Gräfe (Berlin)

Booked: Ayhan, Morales – Bailey, Havertz

Attendance: 40,046