RasenBallsport Leipzig – Bayer Leverkusen: Brilliant Leverkusen Lack Bite In Draw With Lacklustre Leipzig (1-1)

If all one had been told coming into this game was that one team was playing for the title and the other for a top four finish, then odds are they would have picked Bayer Leverkusen as the contenders and RasenBallsport Leipzig as the top four hopefuls. The away side controlled the game to such a degree that it was hard to reconcile Sunday’s Leipzig with the one that demolished Tottenham Hotspur a few weeks earlier.

Tactical analysis and match report by Manasvin Andra.

Peter Bosz set up Leverkusen in their familiar 3-4-3 formation, with Edmond Tapsoba, Sven Bender and Jonathan Tah protecting Lukáš Hrádecký in goal. The midfield comprised Kerem Demirbay and new signing Exequiel Palacios, who were flanked on either side by wing-backs Nadiem Amiri and Wendell. Bereft of star striker Kevin Volland, Bosz brought in Lucas Alario to play as center-forward, with Leon Bailey and Kai Havertz partnering him in attack.

Leipzig lacked a true holding midfielder with Tyler Adams injured and Konrad Laimer suspended and Nagelsmann adapted by setting up Leipzig in a 3-5-2 shape. The defence consisted of Dayot Upamecano, Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg, who were flanked on either side by Nordi Mukiele and Angeliño.Marcel Sabitzer was once again deployed as the deepest midfielder, with Christopher Nkunku and Emil Forsberg joining him in the center of the park. Leading the attack were Timo Werner and Patrick Schick, and at least on paper Leipzig had the look of a side that would run riot over their fifth-place opponents.

The Peter Bosz system

Teams coached by Peter . . .