Europa League: Rosenborg 0-0 vs. Bayer Leverkusen – Half Time Report
Rosenborg are hosting the German side Bayer Leverkusen during the Europa League game and both sides look to be in outstanding form. Rosenborg are playing the finest players available as they are hosting a very strong German side
also playing their first-team in their quest to win the away fixture.
The Norwegians were ready to face the Germans in their home ground even though their coach implemented a little defensive formation: Rosenborg are playing a 4-3-3 formation with two holding midfielders in the centre of the pitch.
Daniel Orlund is the one standing guard between the two poles as he is the chosen goalkeeper for the Norwegian side. He is being helped by Mikael Dorsin, Vadim Demidov, Mattias Bjarsmyr and Mikael Lustig at the back. Per Ciljan Skjelbred is playing as a holding
midfielder and he is being helped by another holding midfielder Anthony Annan. Marcus Henriksen features as a central attacking midfielder while Rade Prica, Steffen Iversen and Morten Moldskred are playing up front as strikers. All the three strikers up front
kept on switching their positions in order to change the course of the game as any one of them would take the centre role in order to disturb the German defence.
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen are playing Fabian Giefer as their goalkeeper; he is being helped by Michal Kadlec, Sami Hyypia, Manuel Friedrich and Domagoj Vida. The German side’s coach Jupp Heynckes was all ready to face
his opposition as he presented a side with only a single holding midfielder who was accompanied by a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder. Lars Bender was busy holding in the midfield as Stefan Reinartz and Hanno Balitsch kept on changing their midfield
positions as one of them used to go in front to add to the striking force of their side. Nicolai Jorgensen played in his favourite right wing position and Sidney Sam played on the left flank while Patrick Helmes played as a sole striker to help the team in
scoring goals.
The first half did not see much goal-action and it was basically because of the cold weather. The game was slow and the home side mostly kept the possession of the ball in order to save themselves from the humiliation of conceding
a goal first. Even though Rosenborg were defending effectively, the German side didn’t waste a single minute to take their chances on goal; however, the best chance of the game came for the home side who slowly managed to build a move from the centre of the
pitch as Iversen got a wonderful opportunity during the 24th minute to help the side score a goal. Even though he was alone in front of goal, he could not really finish the ball into the net and the first-half ended in a goalless draw.
Both sides took their chances but no one was lucky enough to see the first goal. Despite the cold weather, both the teams were trying their best to score a goal even though most of the game was concentrated in the centre of the
pitch.
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