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[2021-04-20 | Allianz Arena, Munich | 20:05 CET]
[Bundesliga MW 30: FC Bayern Munich 1 vs 0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]
[40]
With Bayern opening the scoring, the fans became more animated in their chants. It had an effect as their team gained more ground, forcing the visitors back slowly. Still, the league leaders didn't think of slowing down in the slightest, continuing their high-pace attacks.
In one instant, Baumgartlinger intercepted a pass from Goretzka and immediately played it forward to Rakim. The teenager took one touch, turning away from a nearby red shirt, then drove up the wing facing Pavard head-on. The French fullback immediately backpedalled cautiously, clearly wary of keeping a safe distance after already being booked.
Rakim performed two step-overs as the distance closed, dropped his shoulder, feinted inside, then exploded outside. Pavard kept his composure, staying with him, but Rakim had already nudged the ball past him toward the byline, exploding after it. The French defender's hand shot up, grabbed Rakim's shirt at the neck, and pulled him back.
The sudden yank killed his momentum while momentarily halting his oxygen supply as the shirt collar pressed against his throat. He instinctively slapped back, smacking the hand holding his shirt away. Despite regaining his breath, he did not try to continue his run and simply turned to the referee, holding up his hands.
*(FWEEET!)*
The referee already had the whistle at his lips and did not need a second invitation to blow it. Pavard's face went pale as he seemingly realised what he had done, but it was too late, the official pulled out a yellow card, holding it up—then put it back, reaching for his red next.
The stadium erupted in protest, a torrent of boos pouring down onto the field, but the referee remained firm. Pavard tried to argue his case, gesturing frantically, but the referee merely pursed his lips, shaking his head. To him, it was simply denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity while already being on a yellow.
"PAVARD IS OFF!" Derek bellowed. "Benjamin Pavard receives his second yellow! Bayern are down to ten men!"
"Harsh?" Robson said. "Maybe. But he's been fouling Rex the whole match. The referees had had enough. And that tackle was cynical—grabbing the shirt when Rex had beaten him. No attempt to play the ball."
Hansi Flick on the sideline had also tried to reason with the fourth official, but knew it was hopeless, and he needed to buy time for Niklas Süle to warm up. After helplessly pleading his case with some of his teammates, Pavard was left with no choice but to trudge off. When the German centre back was ready, he pulled him aside to give him final instructions.
"Niklas sits in the centre back with Boateng, and have Alaba play right back. We're shifting to a compact 4-3-1-1 with" He said, giving instructions on what to watch out for. "Now go see the half out and don't get drawn into silly fouls."
[42']
Süle jogged onto the pitch as Coman made his untimely exit to the bench. Pavard, the perpetrator of the incident, had long been seen off the pitch and into the changing rooms. The German defender exchanged a quick word with Boateng as he settled into the centre-back position. Alaba shifted out to right-back, back to playing a role he had long moved on from.
The free kick was positioned on the left touchline, just inside Bayern's half. Rakim stood over it, rubbing his neck where Pavard's hand had grabbed him. Demirbay jogged over to talk to him.
"You taking it?" the German midfielder asked.
"Yeah," Rakim said, eyeing the box where Tah, Tapsoba, and Schick had pushed forward. "I'll swing it in for the back post."
Demirbay nodded and moved into position at the edge of the box. The referee checked that both teams were ready, then blew his whistle.
*(FWEEET!)*
Rakim took three steps back, then ran at the ball, striking it with the inside of his left boot. The delivery was sent curling away from Neuer, dipping toward the area in front of the back post with vicious pace. Bodies rose in a chaotic scramble, fighting with each other to reach the ball.
Tah rose above Boateng, powering a header at goal. The ball sped toward the bottom-right corner. Neuer dove, got his left palm on it, but couldn't hold on. The loose rebound splintered in the six-yard box.
Schick threw himself at it, but Süle slid in to block. The ball deflected left, where Amiri arrived and struck it on the half-volley. "AMIRI!" Derek screamed, but the shot flew just over the bar.
"SO CLOSE!" Robson exclaimed. "Leverkusen piling on the pressure now! Bayern hanging on with ten men!"
[43']
Bayern tried to hold out until halftime, keeping the ball in their own half, playing short passes to run down the clock. But Leverkusen pressed relentlessly, forcing them into mistakes.
In the 43rd minute, Kimmich attempted a back pass to Neuer, but Schick intercepted with a lunge. The Czech striker's heavy touch forced him to scramble for control, but Neuer, closer, slid out firmly and smothered the ball.
[45+2']
In the final minute of added time, Bayern, under pressure after being reduced to ten men, launched a counter. Kimmich slid in and cleanly took the ball from Amiri. Goretzka seized the loose ball and played it up to Lewandowski at the halfway line.
The Polish striker used his back to hold off Tah expertly, laying the ball off to the Surging Muller. Despite the pressure from Demirbay, the forward had no problems bringing the ball under control. The counter was on, and the home side surged forward with Muller carrying the ball through the traffic of the middle third.
He finally had to realise it when it got too tight, finding Sane surging up the right flank. Wendell received him well, stepping as he guided him wide, doing his best to defuse the winger. Not to be easily beaten, Leroy performed a set of steps before cutting inside.
At the last moment, he noticed the Brazilian shuffling to cover the inside and barely managed to knock it wide. They collided lightly as he forced his way through, trying to reach the ball. Tah, who had been covering the space, didn't hesitate and chased after the loose ball.
Sane reached the ball first and sent a first-time cross into the box, skipping past Tah's lunge by mere inches. The cross wasn't high, just around knee height, as it curved across the six-yard line at speed. Everyone turned to see where it would end up as bodies rushed in trying to reach it.
The spectators had risen to their feet, hearts pounding in anticipation as the action unfolded. Hradecky, laser-focused, had the best positioning and reacted with lightning speed, throwing himself into the path of the incoming ball and desperately, nimbly smothering it. He stayed down, arms steely around the ball against his chest, as the opposing players who had rushed in were left frustrated and unrewarded.
Once less crowded, Hradecky rose, walked to his six-yard box, and rolled the ball to Wendell. Before Wendell took more than two touches, the referee checked his watch and raised his whistle.
*(FWEEET! FWEEET!)*
[HT: FC Bayern Munich 1-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]
"And that's the halftime whistle!" Derek Rae's voice trembled with excitement. "What a furious, breathless forty-five minutes we've witnessed at the Allianz Arena. Bayern walk into the tunnel one goal up thanks to Lewandowski's ruthless finish, but tension overloads the air after Pavard's costly second yellow. You can feel the nerves in every corner of the stadium."
"This changes the very nature of the game," Robson added, leaning forward in his seat. Bayern were already under pressure before the red card. Now, with forty-five minutes to play against a full-strength Leverkusen side? Flick has a massive tactical challenge ahead of him."
"And Leverkusen will be kicking themselves," Derek continued. "They've created chances—Amiri hitting the bar, Rakim causing problems down the left, Schick denied by last-ditch defending. But they haven't capitalised. One-nil down despite Bayern being reduced to ten for the final eight minutes of the half."
"An exciting first half that delivered as promised," Robson said. "Now it's a battle to see who can keep their nerves and not collapse under pressure."
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TO BE CONTINUED...