Head coach Xabi Alonso made five changes to his starting line-up from the 3-1 victory at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach, naming the same team that started in the last Champions League game, the 1-0 win over Inter Milan. The Werkself took control of possession in the early stages, while Atletico waited for quick counter-attack opportunities. Exequiel Palacios registered the first attempt of the evening with a long-range shot (5'), but further goalscoring chances in the opening quarter of an hour failed to materialise.
The ball landed in the net for the first time in the 19th minute, but the effort from Nathan Tella didn't count as Alejandro Grimaldo, who supplied the assist, was stood offside. Soon after that, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made strong saves from Florian Wirtz (20') and Tella (22'). The Werkself were pushing and just a few minutes later, referee Davide Massa changed Pablo Barrios' card from yellow to red after reviewing his hard tackle on Nordi Mukiele, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Granit Xhaka fired off the next attempt (31'). Just as it looked like the first half would end goalless, the German double winners struck. Mukiele sent a deep cross towards the far post, where Piero Hincapie was in the right place to head in the opening goal (45'+1) and give his team a fully deserved lead at the break.
Bayer 04 began the second period with Patrik Schick on in place of Mukiele but conceded the equaliser soon after the restart. Julian Alvarez collected a long ball, fended off Jonathan Tah and then Grimaldo before finishing into the far corner (52'). Lifted by that goal, Atletico seized the iniative, helped by a number of mistakes from the Werkself in possession. It remained a frantic, physical and intense contest - but the next chances were a while coming at both ends. At the fired-up Metropolitano, the next excitement came in the 75th minute when Hincapie was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Like the first half, it looked for a long time like ending in a draw - but this time it was Atletico who had other ideas. Alvarez again rounded goalkeeper Matej Kovar and netted the winning goal for the Rojiblancos from a tight angle (90').
Bayer 04 are on their travels again this weekend. On Matchday 19 of the Bundesliga, the Werkself visit RB Leipzig on Saturday 25 January (kick-off 15:30 CET). That's followed by two home fixtures: against Sparta Prague in the final UCL league game (remaining tickets available here) and then TSG Hoffenheim.
Match stats:
Atletico: Oblak - Molina, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan (Reinildo 46') - Llorente, De Paul, Barrios, Simeone (Lino 87') - Alvarez (Le Normand 90'+2 ), Griezmann (Correa 87')
Bayer 04: Kovar - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Mukiele (Schick 46'), Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - Frimpong (Arthur 81'), Wirtz (Garcia 89') - Tella (Hofmann 68')
Goals: 0-1 Hincapie (45'+1), 1-1 Alvarez (52'), 2-1 Alvarez (90')
Yellow cards: Gimenez, Molina, Simeone / Wirtz, Tella
Second yellow cards: Hincapie
Red cards: Barrios
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
Attendance: 70,460 (sold out) at the Estadio Metropolitano
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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