In a stunning turn of events, Bayer Leverkusen’s early dominance was undone by complacency, as they surrendered a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 draw against Holstein Kiel in the German Bundesliga on Saturday. The champions’ lightning-fast start saw them score twice within the first eight minutes, but they failed to capitalize on their advantage, allowing their opponents to claw their way back into the game.
Coach Xabi Alonso was left frustrated, lamenting his team’s lack of intelligence and intensity. “We thought we had the game wrapped up, but in football, you can never take your foot off the gas. We were too passive and didn’t have the right mindset after our big Champions League win,” he said.
Despite enjoying a significant advantage in terms of possession and shots on goal, Leverkusen failed to put the game to bed, allowing Kiel to snatch a crucial goal just before halftime. Alonso acknowledged that his team’s biggest mistake was not knowing how to manage the game after taking a 2-0 lead, leading to a sense of complacency that ultimately proved costly.
The draw sees Leverkusen drop to fifth in the standings with 11 points, while Bayern Munich remains top with 13 points ahead of their clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
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