Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky played a blinder against Bayern, quite literally!
If there was a script to be read at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Bundesliga Matchday 13, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky didn't read it - he couldn't.
The Finland international, 30, made a not insignificant 10 saves as Leverkusen recorded a smash-and-grab victory thanks to Leon Bailey completing his first-half brace either side of Thomas Müller's deflected equaliser.
It was the only blot to Hradecky's copy book, though he later revealed the concession fell during a period in the game in which he was playing with only "one good eye", having lost one of his contact lenses earlier in the contest.
"I lost my contact lens in the first half, so had to change them at half-time," Hradecky told bundesliga.com after the game. "I hardly saw anything for the last 20 minutes of the half, so try to play against Bayern with one eye!"
Watch: Lukas Hradecky's big reveal after Leverkusen's win in Munich
Hradecky's now won three of his last four career meetings with Bayern, dating back to his final outing in Eintracht Frankfurt colours in the final of the 2017/18 DFB Cup. Of all the currently active Bundesliga goalkeepers, only Yann Sommer of 2019/20 table-toppers Borussia Mönchengladbach has a ruder record against the record champions (five wins).
"I know how to beat Bayern," Hradecky joked, before heaping praise on the collective - Leverkusen having been reduced to 10 men with nine minutes of normal time remaining following Jonathan Tah's straight red card for a foul on Philippe Coutinho. "Second half I [made some saves], but it was a heroic performance from the defence, blocking shots as well. I'm glad I was able to help the team."
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Bayern had won all four of their previous competitive matches under interim coach Hansi Flick by an aggregate score of 16-0. Despite Hradecky's modest post-match assessment, that run would have almost certainly continued were it not for his one-eyed heroics.
It's not quite Joe Frazier boxing Muhammad Ali with one eye pummeled shut in the final few rounds of the 1975 Thrilla in Manila, but it's a feat that might just cement Hradecky's place in Leverkusen folklore.
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