In the aftermath of a tempestuous weather event, Ten Hag and Leverkusen emerge triumphant.
In a storm-delayed cup match, Louis van Gaal began his tenure as Bayer Leverkusen's coach with a 4-0 victory against fourth-tier team SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. The win, however, was far from convincing.
The game, initially scheduled for a sunny afternoon, was disrupted by heavy rain, hail, thunder, and gusts of wind. Helpers used brooms to clear water from the pitch during the delay, which lasted nearly 40 minutes.
The early goal by striker Patrik Schick in the 32nd minute provided some relief for Leverkusen, who faced a brave and resilient Sonnenhof Großaspach. For long periods, Leverkusen had to defend, with Schick making a crucial defensive clearance to prevent an equalizer.
The pivotal moment came in the 66th minute when SG Sonnenhof's captain, Volkan Celiktas, was shown a yellow-red card. This shifted control to Leverkusen, and they capitalised on the advantage, with Brazilian wing back Arthur scoring the second goal in the 74th minute.
The team added further goals late in the game, with Christian Kofane scoring in the 84th minute and Alejandro Grimaldo converting a penalty kick in the 87th minute.
The victory was not without its challenges. Bayer Leverkusen was undergoing significant changes, with key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka having left during the transfer period. Erik ten Hag, the new coach, had little time to work with the squad, and several players were making their debuts.
Another challenge arose when Mert Tasdelen from SG Sonnenhof Großaspach was sent off for a bad challenge on Leverkusen defender Axel Tape, further easing Leverkusen’s path to victory.
Looking ahead, Louis van Gaal's team will face TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in their league opener next week. Van Gaal, who has previously coached Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester United, will be hoping for a more convincing performance in his first league game.
[1] Source: Bundesliga.com
In the upcoming league opener next week against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Louis van Gaal's Bayer Leverkusen team is looking to deliver a more convincing performance, having struggled in their cup match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, despite securing a 4-0 victory. As they face European leagues and other sports, van Gaal will aim to ensure his squad adapts and excels, particularly since the team has undergone significant changes with key players departing during the transfer period.
