Please vote to show me your support for the story. The higher we climb in the rankings, the more motivated I will feel. Mass releases will be rewarded for each 10 rankings we manage to climb.
#More than 10 chapters ahead on my Patreon: leave a review; it helps me a lot and lets me know how many people are invested in the future of this novel!!!}
~~~
As the teams marched out, socially distanced substitutes clapped from their chairs along the touchline, a hollow replacement for the missing roar of fans. The referee stood ready with the ball in hand, the Bundesliga's "No Room for Racism" sleeve badges visible as players adjusted their armbands.
Derek Rae's tone swelled with gravity. "And so, here we go. The Bundesliga's title race narrows to this—Bayer Leverkusen, trailing by two points, knowing a win tonight takes them top. Bayern Munich, ruthless and relentless, is aiming to extend its dominance. It's Leverkusen in red and black, Bayern in white."
Robson added, "And tactically, Derek, it's fascinating. Bosz sticks with his 3-4-3—Amiri and Bailey as wing-backs, tasked with defending Davies and Gnabry. That's a huge risk. On the other side, Hansi Flick's Bayern are in their rhythm, Müller buzzing between the lines, Lewandowski up top. This could be explosive." Moments later, the referee's whistle sliced through the cool June air, signalling the start of the match.
[1]
Lucas Alario placed his boot on the ball and nudged it backwards, signalling the start of ninety minutes that could redefine the Bundesliga season. Immediately, Leverkusen looked to assert themselves, pushing high with Baumgartlinger and Aranguiz directing traffic in midfield with a quick sequence of passes.
The ball zipped across the freshly mowed pitch as Leverkusen maintained early possession, aiming to suffocate Bayern's rhythm before it could start. Bailey, full of energy, surged down the right flank, testing Davies' pace with a quick one-two from Amiri. The Canadian matched him stride for stride, forcing a throw-in deep in Leverkusen's attacking third.
The throw-in was worked quickly back to Aránguiz, who swept a diagonal pass toward Diaby on the left. The Frenchman darted inside Pavard with electric speed, cutting a dangerous angle into the box. His low strike toward the near post had Neuer scrambling, but the Bayern captain smothered it confidently.
Derek Rae's tone lifted. "Neuer called into action inside five minutes! Leverkusen is showing they are not intimidated by the champions."
Robson followed with caution. "Yes, but notice how quickly Bayern turned that danger into control, Derek. Diaby had a half-sight of the goal, but Neuer read it. That's what experience brings"
[7]
Bayern began to assert themselves with their trademark possession after Neuer rolled the ball out to Kimich, who had dropped in between the lines of defence. He turned swiftly, escaping his marker and threaded a measured pass into Goretzka, who instantly shifted it wide to Davies.
The full-back was already in full flight, galloping thirty yards up the pitch with that now-familiar stride. Amiri retreated, giving ground carefully, trying not to dive in. Davies waited for the moment, then released Gnabry down the channel. The winger managed to latch onto it before Dragovic could reach him and shaped to cross.
He baited the defender to step across and, at the last moment, cut back inside on his right, creating separation. Without hesitation, he curled a ball toward the penalty spot, aimed at the darting Lewandowski. The striker escaped Tapsoba's marking on the other side of the box but only managed to glance the ball with his head straight into Hrádecký's gloves.
The Leverkusen keeper held firm, clutching it to his chest before rolling it calmly to Bender. Derek Rae's voice resounded following the strike. "There's the warning, Stewart. Lewandowski only needs half a yard to trouble you."
Robson agreed. "Exactly. Tapsoba was tight, but not tight enough. If Leverkusen keep leaving those tiny margins, eventually Lewandowski will punish them."
[12]
Leverkusen regained their composure, slowing the tempo. Aránguiz orchestrated from deep, clipping short passes between Bender and Dragović. Bailey stayed disciplined, tracking Davies on one side, while Diaby tried to stretch Pavard on the other.
Baumgartlinger spotted an opening and lofted a ball toward Alario, who wrestled with Boateng. The Argentine held it up well, laying off for Bellarabi arriving in support. Bellarabi skipped past Alaba but found himself crashing to the ground under Kimmich's clinical challenge.
He tried to complain, but the referee wasn't having any of it, and he danger evaporated before it could be realised. "That's the right idea. Alario is not flashy, but he can pin defenders and bring others into play. Leverkusen need that outlet." Robson noted as play resumed.
[18]
The match found an all too familiar rhythm with Bayern calmly asserting control with neat passes in their own ranks. Leverkusen would occasionally win the ball and look to mount a swift counter, utilising their flanks. However, neither side has managed to trouble the keepers much other than a few routine saves.
In the 20th minute, Müller cleverly lost his man and drifted into space to link up with Coman on the right. A neat one-two freed Coman to swing in a cross, which sadly got swallowed up by Dragovic, who muscled RL9 out of the way, heading it clear. "Solid from Dragović. He's going to be busy today, with Coman and Müller both probing his side." Derek noted.
[23]
Bayern's patient rhythm was beginning to squeeze Leverkusen deeper, the ball circulating efficiently across their midfield. Kimmich, dictating tempo from the centre, sprayed a pass wide to Davies, whose burst forward at speed. Amiri tried to slow him down and force him toward the touch line, but the left back knocked the ball past him, setting off a footrace.
The Canadian's sheer acceleration allowed him to beat his man and carried him thirty yards into the final third. He laid it off to Gnabry, who darted inside Bender with a sudden change of pace. The winger whipped a sharp cross into the penalty area, but this time Tapsoba threw himself bravely in front of Lewandowski, blocking the ball with his chest. It ricocheted awkwardly back to the edge of the box, where Goretzka lurked.
The midfielder met it first-time, hammering a strike that screamed toward the bottom corner. Hrádecký was forced into a low, sprawling save, tipping it beyond the post.
"Excellent stop by Hrádecký!" Derek Rae's voice rang out. "And already the Bayern midfield is stamping its authority, Stewart."
Robson added, "That's right, Derek. Look how Goretzka times his runs—Leverkusen are too concerned with Müller and Lewandowski, leaving those second balls free for Bayern's midfielders. They'll have to tighten up."
[28]
The pressure continued to mount as Bayern earned a corner after a long spell of possession. Müller had cleverly hit it off with Bender near the byline after finding himself cornered by his fellow statesman. Kimmich trotted over to take the set piece, his delivery curling toward the near post.
Lewandowski darted across Tapsoba and glanced the header goalward, only for Baumgartlinger, who was guarding the back post, to nod it clear on the line. Chaos erupted in the box as Gnabry and Coman both stabbed at the loose ball, but Hrádecký smothered bravely under a forest of legs. The referee's whistle came quickly after, awarding a free-kick to Leverkusen for a foul on the goalkeeper. The home side could finally breathe again, dragging themselves back into some semblance of order.
"That's too close for comfort," Rae noted. "Baumgartlinger rescuing Leverkusen there, but Bayern are tightening the noose."
Robson's verdict was stark: "If this pattern continues, Derek, Leverkusen won't survive much longer. They have to use Diaby and Bailey to stretch Bayern—otherwise, it's just wave after wave."
[32]
Leverkusen finally carved a moment of brilliance after Aránguiz won the ball in midfield. The midfielder immediately threaded a measured pass down the left for Diaby. The Frenchman accelerated into space by passing Pavard, who then scrambled to keep up. Cutting inside following a nifty step over that managed to confuse his chasing marker, he drew Boateng out and slipped a pass into Alario, who had cleverly drifted inside the box.
The Argentine striker turned sharply and pulled the trigger, his shot skidding low toward Neuer's far post. The Bayern captain sprawled to his right, parrying it strongly with both hands. The rebound fell invitingly for Bellarabi, who swung his right boot but mistimed it, sending the ball skimming over the bar.
"A big chance for Leverkusen!" Rae cried. "Alario testing Neuer, and Bellarabi really should've done better with the follow-up."
Robson chipped in: "What is he doing? You can tell by the look on Bosz's face that this was not practised in training. You cannot waste chances like that—not against Bayern." The camera panned over to said coach in the home technical area, who now covered his face with his hand.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued...