Bayer Leverkusen hold off spirited St. Pauli comeback to keep title dream alive
Bayer Leverkusen kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 home win over a spirited St. Pauli side who pushed them right to the limit.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz 6’ (assist: Xhaka), 2-0 Tah 21’ (assist: García), 2-1 Guilavogui 84’ (assist: Sinani)
The match burst into life early on as FIFA Best nominee Florian Wirtz showcased his exceptional talent in the sixth minute. The young star received a clever pass from Granit Xhaka, deftly maneuvered past Eric Smith on the edge of the box, and coolly slotted the ball past the St. Pauli goalkeeper to give Leverkusen the lead. The hosts continued to dominate, and in the 21st minute, they doubled their advantage. Jonathan Tah rose highest to meet Aleix García's corner, powering a header into the net from close range.
Tensions rise and changes made
As the first half progressed, the intensity of the match increased. Piero Hincapié received a yellow card in the 28th minute for a foul on Guilavogui, while the St. Pauli striker himself was booked in the 37th minute. The second half saw both managers make tactical adjustments. Alonso brought on Jeremie Frimpong for Exequiel Palacios on the hour mark, injecting more pace into Leverkusen's right flank. St. Pauli responded with their own changes, introducing Danel Sinani for Carlo Boukhalfa in the 79th minute, looking to add creativity to their attack.
Watch: Hrádecký: "Wirtz is a complete player"
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St. Pauli's resurgence
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as St. Pauli began to find their footing. The visitors created several promising opportunities, with Guilavogui at the heart of their attacking threat. Leverkusen, meanwhile, struggled to maintain their first-half dominance, with Wirtz and Tella missing chances to put the game beyond doubt. The hosts made further changes, with Martin Terrier and Jeanuël Belocian replacing Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo respectively in the 78th minute.
Late drama unfolds
As the match entered its final stages, St. Pauli's persistence finally paid off. In the 84th minute, Guilavogui produced a moment of magic, weaving past Arthur before unleashing a powerful shot that flew into the top corner, leaving Lukáš Hrádecký with no chance. The goal set up a frantic finish, with St. Pauli pushing hard for an equaliser. Leverkusen responded by bringing on Robert Andrich for Nathan Tella in the 87th minute to shore up their midfield. Despite the visitors' efforts, including a late yellow card for Adam Dźwigała in stoppage time, Leverkusen managed to weather the storm and secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Player of the Match: Florian Wirtz
Wirtz's outstanding performance was instrumental in Leverkusen's victory. His early goal set the tone for the match, and his creativity and vision continued to trouble St. Pauli's defence throughout. Wirtz completed the most successful passes in the opposition half and was consistently a threat with his dribbling and movement. His ability to find space and link play was crucial in maintaining Leverkusen's attacking momentum, particularly in the first half when they established their lead. The young star's influence was further highlighted by the fact that he was the most pressed player in the match, put under pressure 28 times by the St. Pauli defence.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Leverkusen 0.99 - St. Pauli 1.16
Fastest player: Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen), 36.23 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-1 by Morgan Guilavogui (Pauli), 7.92 percent
Most pressed player: Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen), 28 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Aleix García (Leverkusen), +5.39
Fantasy Heroes: Aleix García (Leverkusen, 290 Points), Jonathan Tah (Leverkusen, 289 Points), Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen, 279 Points)
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