I guess games like this happen: you have a supremacy of
possession with almost 80% – that’s 70 out of 90 minutes resulting in
25 shots on goal but converting only inefficiently into one goal resulting in
a tie game. Essentially, it’s Bayern losing two points and Leverkusen winning
one, thanks to a Grade A goalkeeping performance by Leno.

 

I have to say, I was very disappointed that Leverkusen
played so very defensively at home, when they have shown attractive football in
the first seven games and scoring 17 goals, more than Bayern! Even after
Dortmund lost in Gladbach in the afternoon game, and the host could have taken
over the top position in the Bundesliga with a win over Bayern, they decided to
put the proverbial tail between their legs and focus on not getting steamrolled by
the Bayern Express.

 

But in the end, Leverkusen is the one having the beer and
cheering the tie and Bayern probably taking the Aspirin from jamming their
heads against the Leverkusen defensive wall, without any real success.
Nevertheless, with the tie Bayern is in sole possession of first place the
first time this season.

 

Stats:

Possession Bayern 78%; Leverkusen 22%

Tackles won: Bayern 55%; Leverkusen 45%

Shots on goal: Bayern 25, Leverkusen 5

 

Touches:

Lahm 111

Rafinha 86

Kroos 76

 

Rafinha has proven a staple on right defense this season
with injuries to Martinez and Thiago resulting in Lahm’s holding midfield role.
Question is, what will happen once Thiago and Martinez are able to play?
Martinez is probably three weeks away from being available to play and Thiago a
solid month. Pep surely will keep rotating his players to keep them well rested
for the Bundesliga, Pokal and Champions League.

 

Bundesliga Table:

 

1.    
Bayern 20 Points

2.    
Dortmund 19 Points

3.    
Leverkusen 19 Points

 

Dortmund lost their first Bundesliga game of the season at Mönchengladbach,
completely outplaying the home team but failing to score while losing Hummels
to a straight red card and Gladbach converting the ensuing penalty kick.

 

The most fitting quip about the Bayern and Dortmund games
can be attributed to the popular social media commentator and former Schalke
player Hans Sarpei: “Possession doesn’t score goals.”

 

Injury update:

Thiago; projected return date early November

Martinez practicing again; projected return date middle of
October

Badstuber; projected return date March 2014

 

Next matches:

Saturday Oct 19th Bundesliga versus Mainz.

Wednesday Oct 23rd Champions League versus
Victoria Plzen.

 

Records:

Bayern have not lost in the Bundesliga in 33 games,
extending their own record being short of HSV’s 36 all-time high mark.

Bayern have scored in 45 consecutive games in the
Bundesliga.

  

Pep Talk:

“Congrats to my players since they are first in the league
now. I am very proud of them and they have played very very well but we didn’t
win. That’s football. Leno is a very good goalkeeper.” Sums it up pretty much.

 

Sammer’s Tantrum Level:

0 – Dormant

1 – A 15-minute temper tantrum of a three-year old child –
dinner without dessert.

2 – The 2010 eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull
in Europe – led to a weeklong air traffic disruption in Europe.

3 – Toba Eruption on Sumatra 70,000 years ago – led to a
“volcanic winter” and potential plant and human die-off.

 

Sammer has been uncharacteristically quiet; you have to
check for his pulse, to see if he’s still alive. The only comment about today’s
game that he made was the following: “It was unbelievable how the team fought
today and I was happy that we took a point and not lose 2:1 like last time at
home against Leverkusen.” Ah, he’s back, a little sulfur coming out of the
volcano, but very timidly.