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[19/12/2020 | BayArena, Leverkusen | 19:45 CET]
[Bundesliga Matchweek 13 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs FC Bayern Munich]
[90+3]
Kimmich began moving a step later, causing the four-man wall to hold their breath in anticipation. Musiala closed in on the ball, his leg drawn back just a step away from the ball. However, he never made contact and skipped over the ball, sprinting past the wall.
Baily, at the edge of the wall, felt the urge to follow, but Julian held him in place as he jumped up in the air just as Kimmich struck. The ball left his boot with vicious intent, curling around the jumping wall. It rose sharply, dipping toward the top left corner, making the home fans’ hearts sink.
Hradecky tracked it, his body already in motion, but he didn’t bother jumping, and the ball hit the roof of the net, flying out without much danger. "Joshua Kimmich, oh so close, but fails to trouble the keeper." Derek Rae exclaimed. "(FWEET FWEEET FWEEEET), And that was that in this clash between top and second in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen comes out victorious, extending their lead to seven points."
"They will be happy with this, a positive note to finish the first half of the season on," Robson noted as the home fans cheered in celebration at their team’s victory. "For Bayern, this presents a major uphill battle in the second half. A 7-point gap may seem small, but with a team on a run like Leverkusen, things could very well come down to the wire."
~~~
[20:52 | Mixed Zone]
Laura Wontorra stood in the mixed zone, waiting as Leverkusen’s players began filtering through. The first to arrive was Lukas Hradecky, still in his goalkeeper kit, a towel draped around his neck. "Lukas, incredible performance tonight," Laura began. "How many saves was that? Eight? Nine?"
Hradecky smiled tiredly. "I didn’t count, to be honest. I just focused on each moment as it came. Bayern have incredible quality—Lewandowski, Gnabry, Sané, Müller—any of them can score at any moment. You have to stay alert for ninety minutes."
"What does this victory mean for Leverkusen’s title challenge?"
The Finnish goalkeeper’s expression turned serious. "It means we’re not just having a lucky season. We beat one of the main title contenders at home, creating some needed distance. But the reality is that it’s only December, and the season is long. We enjoy tonight, then we rest during the break and come back stronger."
"Thank you, Lukas. Enjoy your break."
Wirtz was the one to be pulled aside next. "Florian, your goal was brilliant," Laura said. "What was going through your mind in that moment?"
Wirtz shrugged modestly. "I saw the space, Rakim played the perfect pass, and I just tried to finish. It’s what we work on in training—finding those spaces between their lines and exploiting them."
"You and Rakim have developed quite the partnership this season. How do you two connect so well?"
"We train together so much that we understand each other’s movement," Wirtz explained. "I know where he’s going to run when I’m coming up the middle and draw defenders, or if they try to slow me down. I know when he has the ball, the game naturally gravitates toward him, creating space for us to run into. Chemistry isn’t just natural—you have to build it over time."
"What’s your message to Leverkusen fans heading into the winter break?"
Wirtz looked directly at the camera. "Thank you for all your support in these uncertain times. From the Leverkusen family, we wish you all a merry Christmas. We’ll come back in January ready to keep fighting."
Finally, Rakim appeared, still in his match kit, the number 22 visible on his back. He looked exhausted, his green eyes bright despite the fatigue. "Rakim, what a performance," Laura began. "Your assist for Schick’s goal was exceptional. Walk us through that moment."
Rakim took a breath, collecting his thoughts. "I received the ball from Charles, saw Pavard was caught too high, and just went for it. Boateng tried to stand me up, but I managed to get past him. Then it was just about finding Paddy—he made the perfect run, and I tried to put it where only he could reach it."
Laura adjusted her microphone as Rakim continued, his voice steady despite the visible exhaustion. "You’re now on 15 goals and 8 assists in the Bundesliga this season," she noted. "Those are incredible numbers for any player, let alone a seventeen-year-old. Do you feel the pressure of maintaining this level?"
Rakim shook his head slightly. "Not really. I focus on what the team needs each match. Sometimes that’s goals, sometimes assists, sometimes defensive work. Tonight was about creating chances when they came. The numbers are nice, but winning is what matters."
"From rumours, it’s stated that you were a Bayern fan growing up." She stated rather than asked. What does beating them mean for you personally and for this Leverkusen squad?"
"You caught me red-handed, my dad was a huge Roy Makaay," Rakim said simply, raising his hands in surrender. "I grew up watching wingers like Ribery and Roben and dreamt of one day playing in the Allianz Arena, but my path took me to Leverkusen. I haven’t regretted that decision even once. We have and are building something special on the foundation the club has built over the years."
"I’m sure I speak for everyone, especially Leverkusen fans, when I say it has been a pleasure to watch you play in the Bundesliga last season and this one." She nodded, not sticking to the line of questioning that could have created controversy. "Final question—you have a two-week winter break now. What are your plans?"
A small smile appeared on his face. "Rest. Spend time with family. Recharge. Then come back ready to fight for the second half of the season."
"Thank you, Rakim. Congratulations on the victory."
~~~
[21:15 | Press Conference Room]
"-Peter, an exceptional performance against Bayern Munich. How do you assess the match?"
Bosz leaned into the microphone. "I’m very proud of the team. We executed the game plan well—stayed compact defensively, exploited spaces on the counter, and showed great character when under pressure. Bayern are an excellent side, but tonight we were better."
"Seven points clear at the top now. Does this change your approach to the second half of the season?"
"No," Bosz said firmly. "We don’t think about the table right now. We think about the next match, the next training session, and constant improvement. The moment we start celebrating in December is the moment we lose focus. We enjoy tonight, then we reset."
A German journalist raised his hand. "Rakim and Pavard had a situation, leading to a confrontation, both ending up in the press book." A German journalist raised his hand. "What do you make of the situation?"
"There is only so much you can ask of a player to put up with before enough is enough," Bosz stated his displeasure, visible on his face. "Before that situation, the player had got away with a few close calls. The way I see it, the situation was bound to happen; luckily, it’s not worse, and no one got injured."
"Are you saying..."
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.
.
"I believe in this team’s quality. I believe in their character. But football is unpredictable. Injuries, form, luck—many factors influence a season. What I can say is we will fight for every point in every remaining match. Where that takes us, we’ll see in May." Bosz stated confidantly, fielding the last of the questions.
He stood, signalling the conclusion of the press conference. "Thank you all. Enjoy the holidays."
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[Updated Bundesliga Table After Matchweek 13]
1. Bayer Leverkusen** — 32 points (10W, 2D, 1L)
2. Bayern Munich** — 25 points (8W, 1D, 4L)
3. RB Leipzig** — 24 points (7W, 3D, 3L)
4. Borussia Dortmund** — 22 points (6W, 4D, 3L)
5. VfL Wolfsburg** — 19 points (5W, 4D, 4L)
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To Be Continued...