Blessed are those who can rotate!
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Bayern don’t let things burn against Bayer Leverkusen either, winning clearly 3:0. It is the 15th win in the 15th game, the perfect start continues – and that despite XXL rotation.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany makes a lot of changes, also putting his three offensive stars Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise on the bench (together 31 scorer points this season).
This is the most expensive substitution in Bundesliga history!
59th minute: Diaz (market value 70 million euros according to transfermarkt.de), Kane (75 million euros) and olise (130 million), a total market value of 275 million euros, come into the game at once. A real luxury substitution – with the score at 3:0.
Bayern rotates – and remains unbeatable.
Kompany explained his line-up decision before kick-off on Sky: “It was clear to me six weeks ago, when I got the calendar, that this game could be dangerous. (…) It’s totally normal when the question comes up so often: Can they play every game? No, they certainly can’t.”
Since Kane has been playing in Munich, the Englishman has not started in 15 competitive games. the record: 7 wins, one draw and 7 defeats. A bad omen from a bayern perspective?
Not at all! No Kane,no problem.
Bayer Leverkusen Suffers First Away Defeat in Over a Year Against Stuttgart
Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 37-match unbeaten run in away games came to an end with a decisive 3-0 defeat against VfB Stuttgart on November 1, 2023. The loss, marked by an own goal and a dominant performance from stuttgart, raises questions about Leverkusen’s depth as they navigate a busy schedule. Despite manager Xabi Alonso’s confidence in new signing Gift Orban, and a strong start to the season, Leverkusen struggled to find a foothold in the match.
Stuttgart Dominates from the Start
Stuttgart took control early, capitalizing on Leverkusen’s depleted midfield. Leverkusen was missing key players including Palacios, fernandez, and Tillman, while Grimaldo, a standout performer this season, started on the bench due to fatigue following a recent DFB-Pokal match. [https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/vfb-stuttgart-bayer-leverkusen-result-highlights-xabi-alonso-hoeneß-guirassy-24491]
Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring for stuttgart in the 22nd minute,continuing his remarkable goal-scoring form. The lead was doubled shortly after by Chris Führich, putting Leverkusen under notable pressure.
Orban’s Impact and a Crucial own Goal
Recent signing gift Orban, who had previously been described as looking like a “foreign body” in the team, was praised by manager Xabi Alonso for his quick integration. alonso stated, “From my personal perspective, his integration has been very fast. (…) I am happy that we have Jackson there. I believe he will still be important for us this season.” [https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/vfb-stuttgart-bayer-leverkusen-result-highlights-xabi-alonso-hoeneß-guirassy-24491]
However, Leverkusen’s struggles continued, and the game took a further turn for the worse when Hiroki Ito scored an own goal in the 44th minute, extending Stuttgart’s lead to 3-0. The first foul committed by Leverkusen came late in the game, in the 62nd minute by andrich, highlighting their inability to disrupt Stuttgart’s rhythm.
Key Takeaways
* End of a Streak: Leverkusen’s 37-game unbeaten run in away matches is over.
* Stuttgart’s Strength: vfb Stuttgart demonstrated their quality with a dominant performance.
* Leverkusen’s Depth Tested: Injuries and fatigue exposed vulnerabilities in Leverkusen’s squad depth.
* Orban’s Integration: Manager Alonso remains confident in the potential of new signing Gift Orban.
Looking Ahead
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for Bayer Leverkusen. While their overall form this season has been excellent, they will need to address their squad depth and find solutions for games where key players are unavailable. the team will need to quickly regroup and refocus as they continue to compete on multiple fronts.