No liberation in Berlin: Bayer 2: 2 at Hertha BSC

Created: 09/10/2022Updated: 09/10/2022 17:59

Berlin's Marco Richter (l) fights for the ball against Odilon Kossounou from Bayer Leverkusen. © Andreas Gora/dpa

That wasn't the big liberation for Leverkusen.

In Berlin, the Werkself plays too conservative.

That only goes to one point.

Coach Gerardo Seoane has no time to ponder.

The next opponent is bigger than Hertha by numbers.

Berlin – Even a magic free kick by Kerem Demirbay didn't help Bayer Leverkusen out of the earnings crisis.

The Werkself drew 2-2 (0-0) at Hertha BSC on Saturday and are stuck with four points in the bottom of the Bundesliga table.

The difficult situation has hardly improved for coach Gerardo Seoane - and on Tuesday Atlético Madrid come to the BayArena as a much bigger indicator in the Champions League.

Demirbay's (49th minute) goal, which is well worth seeing, was quickly equalized by Suat Serdar (55th).

After Marco Richter's (74th) wonderful goal from a good 25 meters to put Hertha ahead, Patrik Schick (79th) equalized again for Bayer in an entertaining game.

The Berliners missed their first home win of the season in front of 40,643 spectators in the Olympic Stadium, but continued their consolidation course with five points.

The next task is piquant for coach Sandro Schwarz.

On Friday he goes to his ex-club Mainz 05.

Hands tucked deep in his pockets, Seoane stood in his coaching zone midway through the first half.

His facial expression suggested he might have bitten into a lemon.

A miracle healing in Berlin was not in sight.

Despite four changes in the starting XI, Bayer played like a team that desperately needs a sense of achievement and yet doesn't dare.

Hertha was braver, stronger in tackles, just wanted the ball more and also had the first chance.

Dodi Lukebakio (4th minute) headed over the goal.

When Lucas Tousart (19th) shot from a tight angle, Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was fast enough in the near corner.

There was little to be seen of the Werkself offensive that Hertha coach Schwarz had warned of as a major threat.

The possibilities arose from individual achievements.

Patrick Schick (11th) and Adam Hlozek (26th) failed because of the brilliant Oliver Christensen in the Hertha goal.

In the stands, Hertha manager Fredi Bobic looked in disbelief when Wilfriede Kanga (37th) was a bit surprised after a positioning mistake by Jonathan Tah, but hit the post completely free.

Ex-national striker Bobic may have thought he would have sunk the ball earlier.

Both Bobic and Seoane should have been impressed by Demirbay's artful shot in the corner.

Bayer needed such an action.

Now it was Schwarz who looked miserable.

Hertha was once again chasing a deficit.

A comeback has not yet succeeded this season.

The Berliners needed six minutes against Bayer.

Then Serdar completed a counterattack via Kanga and Chidera Ejuke to equalize.

With his second goal after the comeback from cancer, Richter even raised hopes of the home win.

Schick destroyed her with his equalizer.

dpa