Following a challenging fixture against Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen faced VfL Bochum in their Bundesliga outing, seeking to rebound from their European setback.
Leverkusen, positioned fourth on the table, traveled to Vonovia Ruhrstadion to meet Bochum, who languished at the bottom. Alonso’s squad entered the game with a focused mindset, determined to claim three points.
Prior encounters painted contrasting pictures for the two teams. Leverkusen had shown resilience against Liverpool, holding off their attack for over 60 minutes before succumbing to four late goals.
Luis Diaz’s hat trick energized the Anfield crowd and deflated Leverkusen’s hopes. Meanwhile, Bochum were coming off a bruising 7-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, stirring speculation about internal management issues. Fans are hoping for a managerial shift to revitalize the squad.
Leverkusen’s intent was clear from the start, and it paid off in the 18th minute when Patrik Schick broke the deadlock. Despite several attempts, Leverkusen couldn’t extend their lead, as Hincapie’s close attempt missed the target.
As the match progressed, Bochum held on, and just as the visiting side seemed poised to seal a narrow victory, substitute Miyoshi scored a dramatic late equalizer to end the game 1-1.
VfL Bochum Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen
Goalkeeper
- Drewes (5/10) – Competent for most of the game but couldn’t stop Schick’s goal. Miyoshi’s goal later compensated for his earlier lapse.
Defenders
- Wittek (4.5/10) – Delivered an average display with limited impact.
- Holtman (4/10) – Struggled to contain Bayer’s forwards, contributing to a less effective backline.
- Medio (4/10) – Played his role in a shaky defensive setup.
- Passlack (4/10) – Subbed out later, lacking influence as the defense struggled.
- Oermann (4.5/10) – Part of the defense that failed to prevent Schick’s goal despite multiple interceptions.
Midfielders
- Sissoko (4.5/10) – Lost control in midfield despite a high passing accuracy from Bayer.
- Bero (4/10) – Fewer touches in the opposing box. The late goal changed the game, but the midfield lacked creativity.
- Losilla (4.5/10) – Underwhelming performance, needing to contribute more to the team’s rhythm.
Forwards
- Hofmann (4/10) – Had little impact up front, lacking finishing ability.
- Borschinski (4/10) – Replaced by Miyoshi, who equalized in the dying moments.
Manager
- Dieter Hecking (4/10) – While content with a draw, there is room for improvement, especially in defensive organization.
Substitutes
- Daschner (4/10) – Couldn’t influence the game after coming on.
- Gamboa (4.5/10) – Provided some energy but little change in outcome.
- Miyoshi (5.5/10) – Came off the bench to save Bochum with a crucial late goal.
- De Wit (4/10) – Helped close out the game for Bochum.
Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs VfL Bochum
Goalkeeper
- Hradecky (5.5/10) – Solid until the final goal, which could have been avoided.
Defenders
- Tapsoba (5/10) – A steady performance, reflecting Leverkusen’s 40 duels won.
- Tah (5.5/10) – Played reliably but missed crucial moments to galvanize the defense.
- Hincapie (5/10) – Made forward runs and nearly scored but overall was average.
Midfielders
- Frimpong (5.5/10) – Needs to regain his form from last season. Contributed to passing but could have done more.
- Andrich (5/10) – Consistent but unremarkable, with limited creative output.
- Xhaka (5.5/10) – Controlled the midfield well but struggled to create scoring opportunities.
- Grimaldo (5.5/10) – Effective in passes but couldn’t convert the dominance into a goal.
- Hofmann (5/10) – Below-par performance, struggled to impact the game.
- Wirtz (6/10) – Created the assist for Schick’s goal, showing glimpses of his talent.
Forwards
- Schick (6/10) – Scored the opening goal but later got a yellow card. Decent overall.
Substitutes
- Tella (5/10) – Replaced Hofmann, offering little change.
- Boniface (4/10) – Replaced Schick, adding minimal impact.
- Garcia (4/10) – Limited involvement after coming on.
Manager
- Xabi Alonso (5/10) – Disappointed with the draw, hoping for a stronger response after their loss to Liverpool.
