Czech Republic international Patrik Schick did not enjoy his best game in front of goal, wasting some great chances as Bayer Leverkusen fell to a 1-0 defeat in their season opener away at Borussia Dortmund. Schick's movement and endeavour saw him take him up some great positions but his clinical touch evaded him as Gerardo Seoane's men fell short.
Before kick-off Signal Iduna Park was its usual vibrant self as the 'Yellow Wall' comprised their customary rendition of the anthem the Premier League Liverpool made famous to the football world, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Now at the helm was Edin Terzic, who had been serving as Dortmund's Technical Director, but as the club let go of manager Marco Rose he has returned to the dugout for his second spell as Dortmund manager. He had initially been in charge in the 2020/21 season when he was promoted from his assistant coaching position. The crowd have a very good bond with him and the noise before the game let us know that when he emerged pitchside.
Terzic handed debuts to centre back Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg) and forward Karim Adeyemi who they captured from Salzburg. With the sale of Erling Haaland to Manchester City, the Bundesliga runners-up went about replacing the Norwegian by committee with the likes of Adeyemi and Sebastian Haller. Haller sadly was diagnosed with cancer so there was a start up front for 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko.
With German Head Coach Hansi Flick in attendance, the first real chance of note came on ten minutes. Moukoko burst into space and played a dangerous left footed ball across the box and it was met by Adeyemi whose shot was saved by Lucas Hradecky onto the post, but then the ball was bundled in by Dortmund captain Marco Reus for 1-0. Leverkusen went close four minutes later as full back Piero Hincapie's left foot shot from outside the box was just wide of goal. 20 minutes in saw Schick's first sight of goal, but he shot over the bar, shortly after Trezic's men powered forward and Reus was caught in two minds as whether to shoot or cross and ended up driving the ball across the face of goal.
Adeyemi had a collision with Hincapie on the right hand side midway through the first half and was substituted for Thorgan Hazard. Leverkusen continued to probe with Moussa Diaby being their main threat with his runs but it was Schick again involved just before half-time. New-man Schlotterbeck gave the ball away cheaply to the Czech who looked destined to equalise but then Mahmoud Dahoud produced a perfectly timed challenge to holt the centre forward. Dortmund were rapid in their transition but Jude Bellingham could only put his effort wide.
At the beginning of the second period; substitute Hazard was denied brilliantly from close range by Hradecky. A few minutes later the away side thought that they were level. Schick was yet again involved as Gregor Kobel pushed away his shot, Argentine Exequiel Palacios put the rebound in only for it to be ruled out for offside. Just past the hour mark and Schick showed us that he had definitely left his shooting boots at home as he put a guilt edged chance straight at Kobel from Diaby's teasing ball in. Dortmund's number one made himself as big as he could but Schick knows that he should have scored given how close he was to goal. Not even five minutes had passed and substitute Sardar Azmoun fed Schick as another chance went begging. Patrik was clearly having a Schick day.
Leverkusen's substitutes continued to apply pressure and nine minutes from time new signing Adam Hlozek saw his goal disallowed, their second disallowed goal of the game. Dortmund almost had a second as Marius Wolf's bending effort did not do enough to get inside the post. The contest ended in bizarre fashion as Leverkusen captain Hradecky came to claim the ball and the keeper handled outside of his box and was sent off in injury time.
Overall considering how attack minded both sides are we expected a slightly better game, but it was important for Dortmund Terzic to start off his second tenure on the right foot.
@DubulDee
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