Bayer Leverkusen season could be perfectly summed up in the theatrical chaos that was their 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg on Saturday. The game began with Moussa Diaby missing the club’s fifth penalty of the calendar year - continuing the club’s miserable strike rate of 0% from the penalty spot in 2022 - before a wonderful one-two just seven minutes later suggested that the Frenchman’s remarkable pace and clinical finishing hadn’t entirely escaped him.
But the only thing worse than conceding a goal in the opening 20 minutes is scoring one and before long Wolfsburg were level again thanks to a comical own goal from Robert Andrich. Then, just before the hour mark, the Wolves took the lead when Edmond Tapsoba clumsily brought down Felix Nmecha in the box. Max Arnold stepped up to make it 2-1. One step forward, two steps back.
The only saving grace for this microcosm of mayhem was a late goal from Jeremie Frimpong, who got on the end of a mishit shot from Daley Sinkgraven to tap the ball into the back of the net at the back post. Leverkusen may have a new manager but they seem like the same old side, incapable of overcoming their own demons on the football pitch.
The only player to really avoid ridicule and constant eye-rolls from the BayArena faithful was star striker Patrik Schick, who spent the game watching from the sidelines with an injury. The target man was clearly missed in the second half of the match, as Leverkusen went in search of an equaliser. Even if his own form to date has been far from reliable and perhaps the main reason why Die Werkself find themselves having to contend with the threat of relegation.
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