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30.09.2018Bundesliga

What the papers say: 'A mad game by both teams'

Rarely has a game in the Bundesliga deserved to be called the top match as much as the 4-2 defeat for the Werkself against Borussia Dortmund. The media are unanimous in their reports and analysis.
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The online edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger comes to the following conclusion: "Borussia Dortmund beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-2 after being two goals down in the Saturday night game and are now top of the table. No other game in the current Bundesliga campaign has had greater entertainment value. Both teams showed the extent of their capabilities on the pitch … Both teams are very young. Bayer 04 displayed their talent for an hour and Borussia Dortmund their class in the second half."
The Sonntags Express highlights the fact that Borussia have taken top spot in the league after this victory. "League leaders, league leaders rang out from the Dortmund supporters on 86 minutes. The Barça loanee Paco Alcacer (25) had just scored to make it 3-2, turning round a mad game for BVB and propelling the Black and Yellows to the top of the table. Just before the end of the game, the toreador made it 4-2 against Bayer Leverkusen ... The BVB gang of rascals - six players in the starting line-up were 23 or younger - had been chasing a 2-0 deficit for an hour beforehand."
That is also the most important outcome of this top game for the Bild am Sonntag: "After Bayern's 2-0 defeat in Berlin, going top of the league was there on a silver platter. And Dortmund struck late on - a 4-2 victory in Leverkusen. New league leaders. A mad game by both teams. At the end Dortmund were as happy as Larry. ...“
In the online edition of the Rheinische Post Julian Brandt faced the question of how the Werkself could lose after taking such a clear lead: "The constant back and to between outstanding and average is now bothering everybody involved. … 'In the first half we did everything we intended to do, we were compact and were careful with our possession and we used our chances well,' said Julian Brandt in his fair summary of the first 45 minutes. … 'After they pulled a goal back, you could detect a certain insecurity running to the team,' declared Brandt.
The Kicker (online) employs the conjunctive case: "It would have been a statement victory. Would have been! After a bumpy start to the season, Bayer Leverkusen flew out of the blocks in the top game against Borussia Dortmund and deservedly took a 2-0 lead with a considered performance  - and they should have gone 3-0 up. In the end, there was a 4-2 defeat - and that came after an improved performance from the visitors how are now a new team at the top of the table."

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