Bayer Leverkusen Overcomes Pisa, Ten Hag Downplays Injury Worries Following Successful Home Opener
In a friendly match played at the BayArena, home ground of Bayer Leverkusen, the German club emerged victorious against Serie A opponent Pisa with a 3-0 scoreline. The game, which was Erik ten Hag's first at the BayArena, saw Leverkusen extend their winning streak in pre-season friendlies.
The game started on a positive note for Leverkusen, with Robert Andrich scoring the opening goal from a free-kick assisted by Alejandro Grimaldo. The second goal followed shortly, with Christian Kofane finding the back of the net, again thanks to an assist from Grimaldo. Exequiel Palacios added the third and final goal for Leverkusen, assisted by Amine Adli.
However, the match was marred by injuries to two key players. Arthur, Leverkusen's right-back who made 20 Bundesliga appearances last season, limped off in distress just after the half-hour mark. Axel Tape was withdrawn in the 78th minute due to an injury.
Ten Hag, the former Manchester United boss, was not unduly worried about either Arthur or Tape when speaking to reporters after full-time. Both players wanted to continue playing, which he took as a positive sign, and he decided to substitute them as a precaution.
Edmond Tapsoba was sent off for a foul on Henrik Meister early in the second half. Pisa was allowed into the contest as a result, with Mark Flekken being tested on numerous occasions following Tapsoba's dismissal.
Despite the injuries, Leverkusen's domestic season starts with a first-round DFB-Pokal tie against fourth-tier Sonnenhof Grossaspach a week later. Arthur is sidelined with a knee problem and will miss the upcoming friendly against Chelsea, but is expected to recover in time for the Bundesliga opener in about two weeks. Tape's exact injury status after the friendly is less detailed but no major concerns have been reported subsequently.
This friendly against Pisa came after a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Flamengo's under-20 side. Leverkusen visit Chelsea for their final pre-season friendly on Friday.
[1] Source: [Link to the source] [2] Source: [Link to the source] [3] Source: [Link to the source]
The victory against Pisa, bolstered by the performances of players like Robert Andrich and Christian Kofane, proved healthier for Leverkusen's morale, following their previous defeat to Flamengo's under-20 side. With European leagues gearing up, this friendly was a significant test for Ten Hag's squad, particularly ahead of their game against Chelsea and the commencement of the DFB-Pokal.
