What the papers say: 'High-quality arm wrestling'

The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger opts for the following headline:  'Bayern pushed to the limit', and writes: "The Bayer 04 Leverkusen team gathered in the centre circle of their own stadium at 22.25 CET on Friday night. Coach Heiko Herrlich thanked each player individually... Bayern won the first Bundesliga  match of the year 3-1 at the BayArena but they had to work hard for it and also needed some fortunate moments... Karim Bellarabi, who earns his wages as a striker,  acted as a foil to  Leon Bailey. The idea behind that was clear: The means of extreme pace was designed to negate the threat posed by the past master Franck Ribéry with Bailey performing the same role against past master Arien Robben on the other flank. The match turned into a bout of high-quality arm wrestling with muscles stretched to breaking point... After Kevin Volland made it 2-1 with a decisive and slightly deflected shot, something happened that is rarely seen in the Bundesliga. Bayern were put under tremendous pressure and thrown off balance. Volland (76') and Alario (79') had outstanding opportunities to level the scores but were unable to convert those chances."

The Cologne-based Express describes the exciting closing stages of the game: "Bayer woke up when Ribéry made it 2-0. Suddenly it was easy to identify the all-out attacking approach promised by Heiko Herrlich. As in the match at the Allianz Arena, his team did all they could to avert the impending defeat. With their backs to the wall, Kevin Volland netted his tenth goal of the season to inspire hope of taking a point. However, Bayern's outstanding talent James Rodriguez took aim and put the ball in the top corner to make it 3-1 and settle the result."

The Bild Zeitung put the difference down to this one point: "Bayern's experienced players (29.3 years old on average) were calmer and more relaxed than the young Leverkusen team (24.3 years)."

The Rheinische Post writes: "The opening match of the second half of the season again saw FCB leave the pitch as winners. Thanks to the 3-1 win at Leverkusen , the visitors not only underlined their dominant position in the league but also ended Bayer's run of 14 games unbeaten. Kevin Volland pulled a goal back for a Leverkusen side that was often competing on equal terms... Both teams dispensed with a tactical approach in front of a 30,210 capacity crowd at the BayArena and looked to rely on attacking from the start. Leverkusen put the Munich side, without the injured Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski, under pressure and waited for them to lose the ball. Herrlich had set his team up for that by bringing five attacking players into the startling eleven in Kevin Volland, Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt, Karim Bellarabi and Leon Bailey."

The Berlin-based Tagesspiegel took the following position: "In the intense opening period with many strong tackles, Bayer played their part and kept the game flowing. The visitors then gained the upper hand with their varied attacking moves...Leverkusen pressed forward in search of an equaliser in this turbulent closing  stage – as Herrlich had lots of attacking players on the pitch in Bailey, goalscorer Volland, Havertz, Brandt and Alario  But they didn't score."

In the opinion of the Kölnische Rundschau: "It says a lot for the Bayer 2017/18 line-up and Heiko Herrlich that they were able to shine despite the two goals conceded and the apparently superior opponents. The lively Kevin Volland first missed the target (62'), then pulled a goal back to make it 2-1  with the aid of deflections off Martinez and Süle following good work by the impressive Kai Havertz (71'). Bayer scored for the 23rd match on the bounce. The last blank sheet dates back to the 2016/17 campaign. The opponents then were Bayern. If the Bayer striker had not blocked the next cross from Havertz in the box , allowing Jerome Boateng to clear, then they could have scored a not undeserved equaliser."