Football singularity-Chapter 686 January Push (Part 2)
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~~~
[09/01/2021 | BayArena, Leverkusen | Bundesliga Matchweek 15]
[Leverkusen 4 vs 1 Werder Bremen]
[Post-Match | Mixed Zone]
Jenna Clark caught Rakim as he walked through, a match ball under his arm. "Rakim, hat-trick tonight. How are you feeling?"
"Good," he replied simply. "We needed a performance like that after Frankfurt. The team responded well."
"Three goals in one match—does it ever get old?"
He smiled slightly. "Not really. But it’s about the three points. We dropped two in Frankfurt, so getting three here was crucial."
"You’re now on 18 league goals this season. Are you surprised by your own output?"
Rakim shook his head. "I sat down with my team last season and discussed what I should work on. Now it’s just about seeing the results of training, film room and the team’s quality. Flo, Moussa, Charles—they create chances. I finish what they set on the plate."
"Next up is Frankfurt again in the DFB-Pokal. Revenge match?"
"Every match is important," Rakim said diplomatically. "But yes, we owe them one."
---
Updated Bundesliga Table After Matchweek 15:
1 Bayer Leverkusen — 36 points (11W, 3D, 1L)
2 Bayern Munich — 28 points (9W, 1D, 5L)
3 RB Leipzig — 28 points (8W, 4D, 3L)
4 Borussia Dortmund — 25 points (7W, 4D, 4L)
---
~~~
[12/01/2021 | BayArena, Leverkusen | DFB-Pokal 2nd Round]
[Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt]
The rematch between the two came just three days later, and the atmosphere inside the BayArena carried a different weight. This wasn’t about league points—this was the DFB-Pokal, knockout football, where one mistake meant elimination. Frankfurt arrived determined to prove their earlier result wasn’t a fluke, while Leverkusen, the defending champs, sought redemption.
Derek Rae’s voice filtered through the broadcast as both teams emerged from the tunnel: "Welcome to the BayArena for what promises to be a fascinating cup tie. Leverkusen held to a draw by Frankfurt just ten days ago—can they get revenge tonight, or will Frankfurt pull off another upset?"
"It’s a dangerous fixture for Leverkusen," Robson added. "Bosz will need a strong tactical response."
[8’]
Leverkusen started aggressively, pressing Frankfurt high up the pitch from the opening whistle. Wirtz won the ball in midfield with a perfectly timed interception, immediately playing it wide to Bailey on the right. The Jamaican winger took on his marker with a quick stepover, then cut inside sharply.
His cross was whipped in low toward the penalty spot, where Schick had made a clever run between Frankfurt’s centre-backs. The Czech striker controlled it with his first touch, turned, and fired with his second. Trapp got a hand to it, but the power was too much—the ball squirmed through and rolled into the net. Schick sprinted toward the corner flag, arms outstretched, his teammates converging on him.
"PATRICK SCHICK!" Rae roared. "Leverkusen take the lead inside ten minutes!"
[Leverkusen 1-0 Frankfurt — Patrick Schick 8’]
[23’]
Frankfurt responded with increased urgency, pushing bodies forward, knowing that if they let their opponent control the rhythm, it was a matter of time before they conceded again. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 23rd minute, finding an equaliser through a moment of individual brilliance. Filip Kostić received the ball on the left wing, isolated against Frimpong.
The Serbian winger performed a sharp cutback, creating space, then whipped in a dangerous cross. André Silva attacked it at the near post, his header glancing off Tapsoba’s shoulder and looping over Hradecky into the far corner. The Portuguese striker sprinted away in celebration, his teammates mobbing him.
"André Silva again!" Robson exclaimed. "He’s been Frankfurt’s talisman this season, and he’s delivered once more!"
[Leverkusen 1-1 Frankfurt — André Silva 23’]
[34’]
The match settled into a tense midfield battle, both teams cancelling each other out. Then, in the 34th minute, Leverkusen broke through with a moment of quality. Demirbay received a short pass from Baumgartlinger thirty yards out, and he turned away from his marker with a clever drag-back.
He looked up, seeing space, and launched a diagonal pass over Frankfurt’s defensive line toward Rakim’s run. The winger had to stretch his foot out in the air to tap it perfectly, taking the ball in stride as he burst into the box. Hinteregger gave chase desperately, but Rakim had the angle as he cut back.
Instead of shooting, he cut the ball back across the six-yard box with his left foot. Wirtz had continued his run from midfield, arriving unmarked to side-foot it into the empty net. "FLORIAN WIRTZ!" Rae shouted. "Leverkusen retake the lead with a brilliantly worked goal!"
[Leverkusen 2-1 Frankfurt — Florian Wirtz 34’]
[58’]
The second half began with Frankfurt pressing higher, searching for another equaliser. But Leverkusen’s defensive shape held firm, Tapsoba and Tah marshalling the backline with authority. Every Frankfurt attack was met with organised resistance.
In the 58th minute, Leverkusen sealed the match. Aránguiz won the ball in midfield with a crunching tackle, immediately playing it forward to Bailey. The winger drove at Frankfurt’s tired defence, drawing two defenders toward him, then slipped a clever pass into Schick’s run.
The Czech striker took one touch into the box, shaped to shoot with his right, then dragged it onto his left foot, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper. He calmly placed it into the bottom-left corner as he continued his run to celebrate.
"PATRICK SCHICK AGAIN!" Robson exclaimed. "That should be the winner! Two goals for the Czech striker!"
[Leverkusen 3-1 Frankfurt — Patrick Schick 58’]
Frankfurt tried to respond, throwing bodies forward desperately, but Leverkusen’s defence was resolute. Hradecky made two crucial saves in the final twenty minutes, keeping Frankfurt at bay.
(FWEEET, FWEEET, FWEEEET!)
[FT: Leverkusen 3-1 Frankfurt]
~~~
[15/01/2021 | Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin | Bundesliga Matchweek 16]
[Union Berlin vs Leverkusen]
Union Berlin’s home ground was one of the Bundesliga’s most atmospheric venues, even with limited attendance. The compact stadium, nestled in Köpenick, created an intimidating environment. Union, sitting mid-table, played direct, physical football—the style that could disrupt the season’s front-runners’ rhythm.
"Welcome to the Alte Försterei," Rae began as the teams emerged. "Union Berlin has been the surprise package this season. Can they halt Leverkusen’s march, or will they continue to widen the point gap with the rest of their competitors?"
[19’]
The opening twenty minutes were scrappy, Union pressing aggressively and disrupting Leverkusen’s build-up play. But in the 19th minute, Wirtz dropped deep to collect from Hradecky, turning away from his marker with a quick spin. He drove forward fifteen yards, drawing Union’s midfield toward him, then played a disguised pass into Rakim’s feet on the left wing.
The winger had dropped deeper to receive, Union’s right-back following him. His first touch with his right was to tap the ball behind his left foot as he turned away from the defender. On the turn, his left nudged the ball forward, gliding past him, and before he could react, he accelerated beyond his reach.
He carried the ball forward with pace before cutting inside at the edge of the box. He curled a shot toward the far post before a defender could get in his way. Andreas Luthe in Union’s goal dived desperately, but the ball was already past him, nestling into the side netting.
"RAKIM REX!" Rae roared. "Is back to scoring! Leverkusen take the lead early!"
[Union Berlin 0-1 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 19’]
[41’]
Union pushed for an equaliser before halftime, but Leverkusen’s defence held firm. Then, in the 41st minute, they doubled their lead. Bailey received on the right wing, driving at his marker with pace. His cross was whipped in low and hard toward the penalty spot.
Schick attacked it, but a defender got there first, clearing desperately. The ball fell to Rakim at the edge of the six-yard box, who struck it first-time. There was no one in the way; even Luthe’s desperate dive couldn’t keep it out. The ball crashed against the back of the net, igniting the away side.
"GOAL!" Robson exclaimed. "Rakim Rex with his second! Leverkusen are cruising!"
[Union Berlin 0-2 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 41’]
The second half was more of the same. Union tried to press forward, but Leverkusen controlled the tempo, passing the ball patiently, waiting for opportunities to counter. Bailey added a third in the 67th minute with a solo goal, his pace tearing the Union’s defence apart. The victory gave them 42 points from 18 matches, widening the gap by eight points.
(FWEEET, FWEEET, FWEEEET!)
[FT: Union Berlin 0-3 Leverkusen]
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To Be Continued...
