Football singularity-Chapter 687 Wasps
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[19/01/2021 | BayArena, Leverkusen | 18:00 CET]
[Bundesliga Matchweek 17 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund]
Ever since the fixtures were announced, the anticipation had been building; this match had been circled on calendars across Germany. League leaders Bayer Leverkusen, unbeaten at home all season, against Borussia Dortmund, the team many considered capable of spoiling any party.
But more than the tactical battles, more than the league implications, this match had become about two players: Rakim Rex and Erling Haaland.
The media had manufactured the rivalry expertly. Haaland beat Rakim for the Golden Boy award last week, which caused some wrippels. No one could fault them, though, as both players had been on fire since the start of the season. The BayArena was as full as COVID restrictions allowed—10,000 fans creating the noise of 30,000.
Leverkusen supporters occupied most of the stadium, but a vocal pocket of Dortmund’s yellow-and-black faithful made themselves heard from the away section. Derek Rae settled into his commentary position, adjusting his headset as cameras panned across the stadium. "Good evening, and welcome to what promises to be an absolute blockbuster. League leaders Leverkusen host Borussia Dortmund in a match that has captured the imagination of football fans across Europe."
Stewart Robson leaned forward, his notes spread before him. "It’s not just about league position, Derek. This has become personal. Erling Haaland versus Rakim Rex—two of the most exciting young talents in world football going head-to-head."
The screen displayed the statistics side-by-side:
Rakim Rex: 20 goals, 9 assists in 18 league matches
Erling Haaland: 18 goals, 6 assists in 15 league matches
"Remarkable numbers from both," Rae observed. "But tonight is about three points that could make the title race a little more exciting."
---
**Formation - Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1):
GK: Lukas Hradecky
RB: Jeremie Frimpong
CB: Edmond Tapsoba
CB: Jonathan Tah
LB: Wendell
CDM: Charles Aránguiz
CDM: Lars Bender
RW: Moussa Diaby
CAM: Florian Wirtz
LW: Rakim Rex
ST: Lucas Alario
Substitutes: Niklas Lomb, Sven Bender, Daley Sinkgraven, Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri, Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray, Patrick Schick
Manager: Peter Bosz
---
Formation - Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1):
GK: Roman Bürki
RB: Thomas Meunier
CB: Mats Hummels
CB: Manuel Akanji
LB: Raphaël Guerreiro
CDM: Emre Can
CDM: Axel Witsel
RW: Jadon Sancho
CAM: Marco Reus (c)
LW: Julian Brandt
ST: Erling Haaland
Substitutes: Marwin Hitz, Lukasz Piszczek, Mateu Morey, Jude Bellingham, Mahmoud Dahoud, Giovanni Reyna, Youssoufa Moukoko
Manager: Edin Terzić
---
"Edin Terzić faces the biggest challenge in his senior managerial career. Since taking over for Lucien Favre back in December." Rae commented as the young manager could be seen in his coaching area, looking over his squad. "It’s a tricky situation for his first chance at the helm of the club, especially one at Dortmund’s level. But his record speaks for itself: four wins, two losses, and a draw a couple of days ago against Mainz."
"Indeed, Derek. And tonight, he faces a Leverkusen side that’s been on a warpath this season." Robson analysed calmly as referee Deniz Aytekin completed his final checks, both captains shaking hands at the centre circle. "Eight points clear at the top, only one loss all season. Dortmund need a result here if they want to stay in the title conversation."
The camera focused on Rakim and Haaland in their respective positions. The Norwegian striker stood with hands on his hips, his imposing 6’4" frame making him look like a Viking ready for battle. Rakim, at 6’2", looked leaner but no less dangerous, his green eyes scanning the pitch.
Deniz Aytekin checked with his assistants, then brought the whistle to his lips.
*(FWEEET!)*
~~~
[1]
Haaland rolled the ball back to Reus, who immediately played it square to Witsel. The Belgian midfielder’s first touch was measured, his second a diagonal pass toward Sancho on the right wing. Dortmund’s intent to attack with pace was clear from the opening seconds.
Sancho’s first touch was feather-light, dribbling at Wendell. He sold him a cut inwards, then accelerated past him with a burst of speed. The end result of his run was a cross whipped in low toward the penalty spot, but Tapsoba read it perfectly, stepping across to clear with his head.
"Dortmund starting aggressively," Rae observed. "They’re not here to sit back."
The ball fell to Aránguiz, who immediately looked forward, launching a quick counter. The holding midfielder played a simple pass to Wirtz to escape the pressing from Reus. The German teen turned away from Can’s challenge with a clever drag-back, then drove forward five yards before releasing Rakim down the left flank.
The winger took it in stride, immediately isolated against Meunier. The Belgian right-back was experienced, positioning himself to force Rakim wide, but the teenager had other ideas. A quick stepover, then a sharp La Croqueta created separation. He accelerated into the space, but Meunier recovered quickly, shepherding him toward the touchline.
Rakim checked back, playing it inside to Wirtz, who had continued his run. The ball was returned immediately—a clever one-two that bypassed Meunier entirely. Suddenly, Rakim was in the box, but Akanji slid across with perfect timing, blocking the shot before it could develop.
"Brilliant defending from Manuel Akanji," Robson noted. "But Dortmund might be in trouble if they let those two get hot."
[10]
The intensity spiked from there, with every challenge being contested, both sides unwilling to give an inch. In the 7th minute, Haaland received a long ball from Hummels, his back to goal, thirty yards out. Tapsoba was tight on him, but the Norwegian’s strength was almost superhuman, holding off the Burkinabé defender with ease, laying it back to Reus.
The German captain played it wide to Brandt on the left, who took on Frimpong with a sharp cutback. His cross was dangerous, curling toward the six-yard box where Haaland had spun away from Tapsoba’s marking. The Norwegian’s run was perfectly timed, his jump explosive. His header was powerful, directed downward six yards out—Hradecky reacted on pure instinct, diving to his right, getting just enough on it to push it wide.
"WHAT A SAVE!" Rae roared. "Lukas Hradecky denies Erling Haaland from point-blank range!"
Haaland stood with his hands on his head, unable to believe he had been denied. Lars Bender cleared the corner, his header finding Diaby in space on the right wing. The French winger didn’t get far as Akanji chased him down, sliding in at the halfway line to end the attack with a throw-in.
[17]
The match had settled into an end-to-end football rhythm, both teams refusing to cede control. Dortmund’s forwards pressed high, trying to disrupt Leverkusen’s build-up, but Bosz’s side remained composed, playing through the press with quick, incisive passes.
In the 14th minute, Rakim received the ball deep in his own half from Hradecky’s throw. Can immediately close him down, but Rakim didn’t let the ball drop, flicking the ball forward with his thigh on the first touch. Can, assuming it was a mistake, moved to step in front of him, but Rakim’s second touch flicked the ball over his head.
Turning past him with a nimble sombrero, he drove forward ten yards, pulling Thomas Meunier to close him down. Then played a diagonal pass to Wirtz, who had drifted into space between Dortmund’s lines. Witsel tried to press, but Wirtz had already turned, his body positioning perfect.
He ofloaded the ball wide to Diaby, who took it in stride and whipped in a cross. Alario jumped into the air like a sealion rising above Hummels at the near post, but Bürki came out decisively, punching it clear with authority. The rebound fell to Lars at the edge of the box, who struggled to control it under Reus’s pressure.
He controlled it on his chest, managing to bring it down to his right, then struck it first-time. The shot was rising toward the top corner, but it kept rising all the way into the stands. "Good try, but just couldn’t bring it back down!" Rae exclaimed. "He almost had his first goal of the season in stylish fashion!"
Rakim curled the corner toward the penalty spot, causing bodies to collide in the six-yard box trying to get on the end of it. Tapsoba rose above everyone else, his header powerful and directed toward the far corner. It curled goalward with no one being able to impede its path...
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To Be Continued...
