Bayer Leverkusen hold off Scottish champions Glasgow http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314 2-0 in a pre-season friendly
2010/11 Bundesliga runners-up, Bayer Leverkusen, locked horns with the current Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers on Wednesday, July 13. The Werkself emerged 2-0 winners on the night after Rangers showed a decent fight but lacked finishing touches.
The same story was associated with Leverkusen who created plenty of chances but could take advantage only on two occasions which proved to be enough at the end. Midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Ballack-c25270 got their names on the score sheet.
In a game tipped to be a tough affair, Leverkusen started the game as favourites. Rangers went all out in the opening stages of the game looking to stamp their authority and put the Germans on the back foot. However, the Werkself stood firm under immense
pressure and cleverly got hold of the entire situation.
Bayer created a rare opportunity for themselves in the 13th minute and got an early lead through Swiss midfielder, Tranquillo Barnetta. The Germans breathed a sigh of relief after being put under a lot of early pressure. From then onwards, the
club continued to press in intervals but couldn’t stretch their lead.
Both teams made a number of chances during the first half but neither of the two sides were able to take advantage as the first period ended 1-0 in Leverkusen’s favour. Bayer coach, Robin Dutt, restructured his midfield in the break as the Scotts were moving
forward with utmost ease.
The second half had the same flare and aggression as was seen in the first half but goals were still lacking. Ballack and striker Andre Schurrle were continuously causing trouble to the opponent’s back four but the goals were hard to come by. The Werkself
tried hard to stretch their lead to earn themselves some sort of safety, while Rangers continued to press forward in order to get themselves on level terms. Ballack finally got the reward for his efforts as he doubled the lead for his side after scoring from
the penalty spot just ten minutes from normal time.
Leverkusen earned a hard fought win over the Scottish champions which was perhaps the best tonic right before the start of the new campaign.
In an interview after the game, Manager Dutt told, "That was definitely our best showing of pre-season so far, even better than our performance against Red Bull Salzburg because the opposition was of a higher calibre. Perhaps the only negative was our finishing.
I'm happy, though. Our tackling, passing and heading was all pleasing. Even with all those substitutions we never lost our organisation."
Leverkusen will take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/1-FSV-Mainz-05-c38166 05 in their opening game of the new campaign on Sunday, August 7.
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