Kasper Hjulmand made four changes to the team that started Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League as Montrell Culbreath, Ezequiel Fernández, Malik Tillman and Patrik Schick came in for Exequiel Palacios, Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane and the suspended Alejandro Grimaldo.
The Werkself started with the same intensity they’d showed against Arsenal. Culbreath was lively up against Diaz on the wing and dispossessed the Colombian in the sixth minute to play in Schick, who found Garcia to put the hosts in front. Jackson threatened to respond shortly after but dragged his shot wide.
Bayern started to control proceedings as the half wore on and thought they had levelled when ex-Werkself man Jonathan Tah put the ball in at a free-kick, but the goal was ruled out on review for handball. Hjulmand’s men remained disciplined and a threat on the break, with Culbreath flashing a shot not far wide. With moments remaining in the half, Jackson fouled Martin Terrier in midfield, with referee Christian Dingert upgrading his original yellow card to a straight red after looking at the scene again.
The second period was just as eventful, including an Ibrahim Maza attempt from halfway. The 10 men of Bayern were more open at the back as they pushed to restore parity. Chances came and went for Tillman and Schick. Bayern had the ball in the net once again when Harry Kane tapped in seconds after coming on, but again it was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. But the visitors were finally level in the 70th minute when Michael Olise pounced on a loose pass and played in Diaz to slot past Janis Blaswich. The Colombian was later the second Bayern player to see red when he received a second yellow for simulation in the 84th minute.
With a two-man advantage, Leverkusen pushed to win it. A parried shot just evaded Jarell Quansah in the box before Hofmann looked to have won it three minutes into added time, but once again the goal was chalked off by VAR, this time for offside. It meant it stayed at 1-1 as the Werkself extended their unbeaten run at home to Bayern in the Bundesliga to four games.
Bayer 04 now have back-to-back away games before the international break. First they go to London on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Arsenal (21:00 CET), before a visit to bottom side Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Blaswich – Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba – Culbreath (Hofmann 77'), Fernandez, Garcia (Palacios 77'), Tillman, Poku (Tella 86') – Terrier (Maza 46'), Schick (Kofane 60')
Bayern: Ulreich – Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer (Bischof 88') – Kimmich, Pavlovic (Goretzka 61') – Olise (Kim 88'), Karl (Kane 60'), Diaz - Jackson
Goals: 1-0 Garcia (6'), 1-1 Diaz (70')
Yellow cards: Fernandez, Andrich, Tapsoba - Tah, Diaz, Ulreich, Kompany (coach)
Red cards: Jackson (42'), Diaz (84')
Referee: Christian Dingert
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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