Beginning with the Bundesliga

As I start to branch out to other leagues apart from the Premier League, the first game I watched was Bayern vs Bayer Leverkusen. While choosing to watch this over Child Genius was originally a tough decision, it proved to be the correct one as it ended up being a belter of a game and a great introduction to the Bundesliga for me. Here are my thoughts and a match report on the game.

After an evening of rain, rain and poor defending, Bayern came out on top 3-1 against Bayer Leverkusen, but it wasn't as straight forward as you might think. After an expected bright start from the German champions, the pressure finally told as just before the 10 minute mark an unmarked debutant Niklas Sule headed in calmly across goal from another debutant, Sebastian Rudy's, free kick. However the defending is to be questioned as to how Sule was left so free at the backpost with defenders ball watching from the free kick.

Then after a small spark of pressure from Leverkusen, Bayern hit back again after more poor defending from the Leverkusen back line. As they fail to clear a corner, Vidal volleyed in a cross from a central position with yet another debutant Corentin Tolisso this time benefiting from poor defending as he headed in unchallenged at the backpost. An area of weakness maybe for Leverkusen?

However it could've been worse for Leverkusen as a lovely flowing move from Bayern saw a shaky save from Leno as the ball squirmed through his legs and hit the post from a Corentin Tolisso shot which an incoming Robert Lewandowski almost tucked away. Leverkusen did fashion their own chances but Ulreich, who looked like he had been taking some lessons from an unavailable Manuel Neuer, kept them out both with his legs in very Neuer-esque fashion.

Then as half time approached at the Allianz, so did the rain, bringing some very entertaining moments. As most stampeded inside for cover the Bayern ultras were only encouraged as they began to take of their shirts, wave them above their heads and jump like nobodies watching. And as the cameramen gave some memorable shots of overweight Germans drying out their shirts, with nothing on up top, the stadium announcer had a fine idea to play the song "why does it rain on me?" to pass the time as the game had to be delayed as the wait for the rain to stop continued.

As the rain began to calm the second half was underway and Leverkusen came out very strongly having clearly got a stern talking to from coach Roger Schmidt. After Bellerabi was presented with two half opportunities, both of which he headed over, Bayern got a surprisingly rare attack and got a penalty, with the help of VAR, the first time it's been used in the Bundesliga. As a cross came in from the left, Lewandowski was pulled down in the box but the referee was alluded to the event only to be told when the ball went out for a throw, penalty. Which without doubt Lewandowski put away with ease routing Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno to the spot.

From this event forward however, Leverkusen were by far the better team bringing out top saves from a Neuer-trained Ulreich and a block on the line from the versatile midfielder Joshua Kimmich, playing at right back. However they finally forced the ball into the net as the impressive substitute Julian Brandt found Mehmedi who absolutely rocketed in a shot from the edge of the area, off the crossbar and in. A shot so powerful that despite a fingertip from the outstanding Ulreich, it still found its way in, almost taking the net off in the process. A very deserved goal.

Then came full time, after a very substandard finish with Leverkusen missing a few half chances, the game finished 3-1, a scoreline that surprisingly flatters the home side. Leverkusen can take a lot of pride from this game though as not many teams have had 20 shots at the Allianz before. From a Bayern prespective however, work is to be done. Despite winning the game, they didn't win it comfortably and in the end Leverkusen could've even got a draw from the game.

MOTM: Julian Brandt

Despite there being no real stand out player on the pitch Julian Brandt definitely made the most impact when he came on whilst also providing the assist for Leverkusen's only goal.