Football singularity

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[01 / 02 / 2020, Location: PreZero Arena, Sinsheim – Wet 7 °C, swirling wind, Bundesliga, Match-week 20 Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen]

The week following the decimation of their derby rival went by in a jiffy as the whole club got to work. Since the second month was arguably the most important of the year 2020, they all had high expectations of the results they wanted to achieve. It would be hard as they would fight a 3-pronged battle in the Bundesliga, facing teams like Dortmund, the DFB Pokal and their first round of 16 Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Thus, they got to work with all players, coaches and backroom staff, giving it their all to do their best. On the first of February, the first of their 6 clashes took place in the home of Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, Match week 20. Wanting to continue their dominant form from their previous week's clash against Dusseldorf, the Red Lions attacked from the first whistle.

[12]

They quickly managed to pressure the home side with their dynamic wing attacks and link-up play. In the 12th minute, they created their first real chance after a sloppy Hoffenheim clearance was gobbled up by Baumgartlinger 35 yards from goal. The holding midfielder promptly passed to Havertz, splitting two defenders.

He let the ball run across his body, before bringing his foot to the ball, threading a needle precisely through ball into the run of Diaby. The Frenchman tore away from Hübner, who proceeded to open his hips and fired a low shot across Baumann into the far corner. "That's surgical, Kai Havertz with a scalpel and Diaby finishes the incision," Derek Rae purrs while the visiting ultras ignite red smoke under the roof.

[Hoffenheim 0 vs 1 Bayer Leverkusen]

[24]

"Oh, that was simply reckless, poor decision-making from Skingraven I wouldn't be surprised if the official shows him red," Robson commented as Hoffenheim's striker took a tumble in the box, clutching his foot following a risky slide tackle from Skingraven. "There was always the possibility of a sending-off, but he will be kicking himself at being forced to call it a day this early."

"I honestly have no words, hopefully, a cold shower will bring some sense into him. There was simply no need for such measures given that Tah was covering the inside and Hardeckey isn't exactly a pushover between the sticks." Derek commented, showing no sympathy for the left-back who was now undertaking the walk of shame off the pitch. Most away fans understood why he had done it, but those knowledgeable ones understood that it was not worth going down a man this early.

Three minutes later, after the striker had received medical attention, Hoffenheim captain André Kramarić placed the ball on the penalty spot amid a restless hush that rolled around the PreZero Arena. Skoś set-piece specialist Vogt stood over it first, but Kramarić calmly waved him away, unwilling to delegate this responsibility to anyone else. The wind tugged at his shirttails as Hrádecký spread himself on the goal line, knees flexing lightly as he stood on the heels of his toes, coiled spring at any moment.

The keeper's poker face was on point as he didn't flinch in the slightest, his movement barely noticeable as he stared down the Croatian in front of him. A second later, the whistle shrilled, signalling the go-ahead, but neither of the two protagonists moved, seemingly playing a game of chicken. It was Kramarić who broke the standoff as he strode up, whipping a right-footed strike low to the keeper's left.

Hrádecký guessed correctly, flinging out a strong palm to parry, but the greasy ball skidded straight back into the danger zone. Ihlas Bebou reacted quickest, lunging in front of Tah to stab the rebound over the line from four yards.

"Saved once, not twice," Derek Rae bemoaned. "Hoffenheim level it and Leverkusen's early red card is punished almost instantly."

Steward Robson let out a low whistle. "That's a poacher's finish, and it flips the momentum completely. Down a man, Bosz's side now has a long afternoon ahead."

[Hoffenheim 1 – 1 Leverkusen]

[33]

With Daley Sinkgraven already under the stadium showers, Bosz shuffled the deck: Wendell replaced Azhil and slid to left-back, as Volland retreated ten yards to shorten the distance between him and the midfield numbers as the formation morphed into a 4-4-1.

The tactical duct tape stemmed the bleeding just in time for a Hoffenheim set piece 30 yards out. Robert Skov curled a wicked delivery that sliced through the downpour; Hübner rose highest and thundered a header off the crossbar, the frame rattling like a tin roof in a gale before Tah hoofed the rebound clear.

"That bar's still trembling," Rae marvelled. "Leverkusen need to respond and fast."

[45+1]

Just before the break, Leverkusen nearly executed the perfect smash-and-grab. Rakim wriggled free on the left flank, signalling the counter, as he raced up the flank. He chopped inside his marker and rolled a square ball to Havertz. Twenty yards out with the wind at his back, the 20-year-old let fly; the strike swerved wickedly, beating Baumann's glove, only to cannon flush off the inside of the post, skidding along the line before Vogt hacked it away.

Robson inhaled sharply. "Half the stadium thought that was in. Havertz struck it so sweet the raindrops didn't dare touch it."

[HALF-TIME: 1–1]

[57]

Hoffenheim emerged from the break with the purpose of punishing the unruly visitors. It worked as they managed to push the tempo up, culminating in a couple of missed opportunities, and in the 57th minute, they managed to earn a deep free kick near the left touchline. Skov's outswinger had snow on it by the time it dropped, Hübner didn't mind though as he bullied his way through traffic.

He rose highest, beating Tah by a full head, planting a downward header past Hrádecký into the far corner. "Set-piece déjà vu, but this time the bar's not saving Leverkusen," Rae sighed over the home roar.

"Bosz will be furious," Robson growled. "Same runner, same delivery, and finally a result. That's a coaching nightmare."

[Hoffenheim 2 – 1 Leverkusen]

[65]

Bosz no longer able to wait, executed a Double switch in the form of Leon Bailey replacing the exhausted Diaby on the right, and Exequiel Palacios relieved Havertz in the middle. The rain seemed to intensify, sheets of water whipping across the floodlights as Bailey immediately went to work, carving up Kaderábek with two elastic step-overs before earning a free-kick 28 yards from goal.

[73]

Rakim himself stepped up to take it with his hands on his hips as he gazed beyond the wall. His black and blonde hair clung to his head, glistening under floodlights as he waited for the referee's whistle. "Derek, looking at him, he might actually go for it," Steward Robson commented as the referee's whistle resounded in the arena.

"(Fweet) Surely not, especially in this weather, con- OHHH What a goal," Derek tried to respond, only to exclaim in shock as the ball impacted the back of the net.

"The keeper did everything right, but he was simply left outclassed by that strike," Robson intoned as the replay of the shot was shown as Rakim went off to celebrate.

Rakim had struck the ball with the top of his foot, exerting maximum power, sending the ball torpedoing over the ball. It curved over the left side just in time to beat the jumping wall. It looked like it would curve back to the near post, but it suddenly seemed to lose its spin. The keeper, who was already moving across his line, barely managed to glance back as it punctured the top left corner.

[Hoffenheim 2 – 2 Leverkusen]

[80]

With nerves fraying, yellow cards flew: Ayhan for a cynical shirt pull on Bailey, then Kaderábek for striking down Swen near the corner flag. Bailey's ensuing free-kick arced to the penalty spot where Volland thundered a header destined for the roof—Baumann sprawled backwards, fingertips flicking it over with a reaction save worthy of a still frame.

"Baumann's heroics keep things level here at the PreZero Arena," Rae purred.

[88]

Hoffenheim's last gasp came when substitute Munas Dabbur hooked a looping cross toward Kramarić. The striker's attempt at a scissor kick fizzled out spectacularly as he set the ball to the roof of the stadium. Hrádecký barely bothered to act like he was startled as he used his towel next to the goal to dry his gloves.

[90+3]

After 3 minutes of extra time, referee Sven Jablonski drew a soggy line under proceedings. All square in Sinsheim, and despite the man disadvantage, Leverkusen felt like they left points on the table.

[FULL-TIME: Hoffenheim 2 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen]

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To Be Continued...