Bayern Munich 1 – Bayer Leverkusen 2

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Bayer Leverkusen winger ANDRE SCHUERRLE, the promising 21-year-old who has already scored seven goals in his first 19 international appearances for Germany, races for the ball with national team constituent and Bayern Munich’s new left back this season HOLGER BADSTUBER, the 23-year-old with 30 caps (1 goal) for Deutschland, during the intense Bundesliga duel at the always-sold out Allianz Arena in Bavaria.
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10/27/12
Bundesliga
Spieltag # 9

1 – BAYERN MUNICH ——————– Mandzukic 77′
2 – BAYER LEVERKUSEN ————– Kiessling 42′, own goal 87′

After heroically battling back to equalize in the second half and then press for winner, the hosts were undone by a astonishing piece of misfortune on the counterattack as visiting BAYER LEVERKUSEN upset table-toppers BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 and ended the record German champions’ historic unbeaten streak to start this 2012/13 Bundesliga season.

Trainer JUPP HEYNCKES’ Bavarian side, however, does remain atop the top flight standings despite the setback and look now look ahead to the mid-week D.F.B. Pokal contest against 1.FC Kaiserslautern, who were demoted from the Bundesliga at the end of last season, next on the schedule for Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen grabbed a shock lead on a counterattack just before the halftime whistle with an extraoridnary and exquisite display of passing football. 30-year-old veteran SIMON ROLFES, the experienced midfielder who has earned 26 caps (2 goals) for Deutschland in his career, released emerging Germany international winger ANDRE SCHUERRLE down the right wing and his subsequent cross found striker STEFAN KIESSLING, the 28-year-old who scored 21 goals for die Werkself during the 2009/10 Bundesliga campaign before being chosen to be a member of Germnany’s third-place 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa. The blond-haired Kiessling, who easily led Bayer Leverkusen with 16 goals in the German top flight last term, stabbed home at close range to net sixth goal this season and give the visitors emotional lift right before the break.

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One promising sign for the rest of this 2012/13 season was the versatile Austria international DAVID ALABA’s season debut for Bayern Munich in the match with visting Bayer Leverkusen; the 20-year-old Bayern youth team product excelled last term after establishing himself at left back and, after returning from a lenghty injury spell, recently drew rave reviews for his performance with Austria after scoring one goal and assisting on two others in Oesterreich’s decisive 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier in mid-October.
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With Bayern Munich having had most of its way in the first half, the wiley Heynckes felt condident enough to exchange Germany international left back HOLGER BADSTUBER for the attack-minded Switzerland international XHERDAN SHAQIRI at the break; furthermore, Holland international winger ARJEN ROBBEN was brought on for the Brazil international midfielder LUIZ GUSTAVO just before the hour. The risk was minimal, as the Bavarians would enjoy two-thirds of the ball throughout the entire contest.

Shaqairi, the 21-year-old who was bought from defending Swiss Super Liga champion FC Basel in the summer for a transfer fee of 9.0 million Euros, would hit a thumping left-footer from outside the box which drew a fine, flying save from talented Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper BERND LENO.

Bayern Munich, who went on to outshoot the their guests 24-5 on the match, clearly had all the momentum when aging Peru international CLAUDIO PIZARRO was sent on in place of Germany international midfielder BASTIAN SCHWIENSTEIGER with a little less than a quarter of an hour to play. This would have its impact, but not before Schuerrle had a glorious chance to kill off the game for Bayer Leverkusen with a sharp, low shot on a rare break. Fortunatley for the Bavarians, though, Germany national team goaltender MANUEL NEUER was able to get down quick enough and hold the ball.

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Holland World Cup winger ARJEN ROBBEN (10) made his long-awaited return to action for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga after coming on as a second half substitute in the clash with Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena. The something less than match-fit Dangerous Dutchman has made just four appearances in the German top flight this term and has logged only a couple of assists in the SpVgg Greuther Fuerth truiumph on opening day. Robben, of course, was signed from Spanish La Liga giant Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 25.0 million Euros in August of 2009 and has since totaled 40 goals in 66 Bundesliga games for the Bavarians.
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The elderstatesman Pizarro, who is on his second tour of duty with Bayern Munich after stops in England with London-based FC Chelsea as well as northern Bundesliga rival Werder Bremen, soon provided an expert cross for Croatia international striker MARIO MANDZUKIC to head home at the back post in the 78th minute and bring the surging Bavarians level. A team-leading 8th goal in the Bundesliga for the off-season signing from Vfl Wolfsburg, then. Altogether, Mandzukic has managed 11 goals in all compeitive matches for the Bavarians this term.

Just when it appeared the two teams might have to split the points, Bayer Leverkusen was the beneficiary of a stunning break. Former Germany U-21 international winger SIDNEY SAM had only come on for the goal-scorer Kiessling minutes earlier and his header, by his own admission after the match, may very well have been headed wide. But the unlucky face of Germany centerback JEROME BOATENG inadvertantly steered to ball into the corner of the opposite part of the net that the Bayer Levekusen substitute had been aiming for in the first place!

There was still time for Austria international DAVID ALABA to launch a long range shot straight at Leno and for the unlucky Pizarro, who has still not scored a Bundesliga goal since his return to Bayern Munich this season, bounce a ball off the top of Bayer Leverkusen’s cross bar — but all for naught, true to the Bavarian’s overall fate for the day.

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A frantic final minutes saw Germany first choice MANUEL NEUER (1) make some courageous, if not skillful-enough, plays for the Bavarians far upfield in Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive third in a most desperate attempt to help Bayern Munich generate a miraculous late-equalizer in the entertaining Bundesliga match at the always-sound out Allianz Arena in Bavaria.
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BAYERN MUNICH : Neuer – Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Badstuber (Shaqiri 46′) – Luiz Gustavo (Robben 59′), Schweinsteiger (Pizarro 74′) – Mueller, Kroos, Alaba – Mandzukic

BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Leno – Carvajal, Wollscheid, Toprak, Hosogai – Reinartz – L. Bender, Rolfes – Castro (M. Friedrich 90′), Schuerrle (Heegeler 84′) – Kiessling (Sam 84′)

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Bayer Leverkusen 2 – Bayern Munich 0

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Holland World Cup winger ARJEN ROBBEN of Bayern Munich, who netted two smashing goals for the Netherlands against England at Wembley in midweek but has only managed a single strike for his club since the end of the winter break, battles for the ball with Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany international midfielder LARS BENDER (8) during the Bundesliga match at the sold-out BayArena in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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3/3/12
Bundesliga
Spieltag # 24

2 – BAYER LEVERKUSEN —————— Kiessling 80′, Bellarabi 90′
0 – BAYERN MUNICH

A pair of well-taken tallies inside the final dozen minutes of the match all but destroyed this season’s title aspirations of the record German champions as BAYER LEVERKUSEN blanked visitng BAYERN MUNICH 2-0 in a critical Bundesliga tilt from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Bayern Munich were clearly the better side for the first half hour or so but were unable to capitalize on the numerous chances they created against a Bayer Leverkusen side to whom the visitors had not lost home or away in their last 14 Bundesliga contests (11 wins) stretching back to August of 2004.

Holland World Cup winger ARJEN ROBBEN, who recorded 26 goals from 38 matches for the Bavarians in his first two Bundesliga seasons but has scored just five goals in 15 German top flight matches this term, was in much better form this week but was frustrated by a fine save from Bayer Leverkusen’s 19-year-old goalkeeper BERND LENO; the impressive Germany youth international, whose loan move from Vfb Stuttgart was made permanent for the transfer fee of 7.5 million Euros this past November, stopped five shots in all and posted his ninth shutout at the expense of Bayern Munich.

Germany World Cup goalkeeper MANUEL NEUER of Bayern Munich, who sat out the midweek international friendly versus France in Bremen, was needed at the other end to make a save in a one-on-one situation with national team colleague ANDRE SCHUERRLE of Bayer Leverkusen, wearing a facemask as a result of a broken nose suffered against the French, just before the break.

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Out-of-form Germany international striker MARIO GOMEZ of Bayern Munich, who totaled 16 goals in the first 17 games of this Bundesliga season but has managed just two strikes in seven top flight matches since, went around Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper BERND LENO (23) — less than twenty-four hours away from a 20th birthday — but would have his shot cleared off the line by Werkself defender Manuel Friedrich in the 40th minute of the Bundesliga match attended by 30,210 speactators at the BayArena in North-Rhine Westphalia.
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Bayer Leverkusen trainer ROBIN DUTT threw caution to the wind at the half and exchanged defender MANUEL FRIEDRICH, who made a pivotal play in the first half to clear a ball headed for an empty net, for Switzerland World Cup striker EREN DERDIYOK. Indeed, the substitution helped the Werkself to seize the initiative as the hosts began to have far more opportunities as the match wore on. Only two fabulous saves in short order by Neuer from Germany international striker STEFAN KIESSLING kept Bayer Leverkusen off the board not so long after the hour.

Bayern Munich trainer JUPP HEYNCKES had withdrawn ineffective Germany international striker MARIO GOMEZ, struggling but still tied for the Bundesliga lead with 18 goals this season, in favor of France World Cup winger FRANCK RIBERY, who had sustained a bit of a knock against Germany in Bremen and was kept out of the Bavarian Startelf, in the 61st minute.

The turning point arrived when Derdiyok made a hustling play to keep a wayward cross in bounds and then quickly directed a ball over his head to effectively catch the Bayern Munich defense, Neuer included, napping in the 80th minute. Kiessling was more than delighted to stick out a foot and stab the ball into an empty net for his seventh goal in the Bundesliga this term. In the waning stages, with the Bavarians throwing all but the kitchen sink forward, the Werkself doubled the score when counterattacking Germany international winger GONZALO CASTRO squared a ball for youthful striker KARIM BELLARABI in the 90th minute.

The devastating result left the 22-times German national champion trailing last season’s Bundesliga titlist, Borussia Dortmund, by seven points in the standings with but ten matches left to play in the 2011/12 campaign.

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Germany World Cup reserve striker STEFAN KIESSLING (11) of Bayer Leverkusen, who registed 21 goals in 33 games during the 2009/10 Bundesliga season but has declined somewhat to 14 goals in 46 top flight matches since, seeks to escape the shirt-tugging of Bayern Munich’s Germany international defender HOLGER BADSTUBER during the Bundesliga match at the sold-out BayArena in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Leno – Schwaab, Friedrich (Derdiyok 46′), Toprak, Kadlec – Reinartz, Bender – Castro, Renato Augusto (Rolfes 89′), Schuerrle (Bellarabi 83′) – Kiessling

BAYERN MUNICH : Neuer – Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm – Luiz Gustavo, Alaba – Mueller (Petersen 82′), Kroos (Olic 74′), Robben – Gomez (Ribery 61′)

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Bayern Munich 3 – Bayer Leverkusen 0

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Bayern Munich midfielder ANATOLI TYMOSHCHUK, the 32-year-old veteran with 109 internationals caps for the Ukraine, slide tackles the ball away from Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany World Cup reserve striker STEFAN KIESSLING (11), who finished second in the top flight with 21 goals during the 2009-10 campaign, during the Oktoberfest Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena in Bavaria.
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9/24/11
Bundesliga
Spieltag # 7

3 – Bayern Munich —————— Mueller 5′, van Buyten 19′, Robben 90′
0 – Bayer Leverkusen

An early goal less than five minutes in left the visitors to chase a match they never really had any hope of catching as record German champion BAYERN MUNICH breezed almost effortlessly to a 2-0 shutout victory over BAYER LEVERKUSEN and retained their position at the top of the Bundesliga standings.

France World Cup winger FRANCK RIBERY continued his rich vein of form to put Bayern Munich in command right from the start. The 28-year-old decisively beat his marker, the 18-year-old Bundesliga debutant DANNY DA COSTA, and quickly centered the ball for Germany World Cup winger THOMAS MUELLER to redirect past 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper BERND LENO. Mueller’s second goal in as many matches and third of the season in all competitions clearly set a tone and would allow the Bavarians to play a patient, possession-oriented game to perfection.

Bayern Munich doubled its lead with a well-worked set piece before even twenty minutes had been played. Germany World Cup midfielder BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER rolled to ball to Ribery, who deadened it for Belgium international defender DANIEL VAN BUYTEN. The savvy 33-year-old veteran promptly blasted the ball through what was left of the Bayer Leverkusen wall that did not jump and just inside the post to notch his 17th career goal for the Bavarians in the 19th minute.

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Brazil international fullback RAFINHA of Bayern Munich (right), one of three players purchased by the Bavarians this off-season summer to strengthen the backline for the upcoming campaign, dribbles away from Bayer Leverkusen’s one-time Germany U-21 international winger SIDNEY SAM during the noticeably one-sided Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena.
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Germany World Cup goalkeeper MANUEL NEUER of Bayern Munich comfortably saved a shot by Bayer Leverkusen striker STEFAN KIESSLING, a reserve on Germany’s 3rd place squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, early in the first half and another by the Germany international fullback GONZALO CASTRO in the second session but was never really tested and mostly just gobbled up all high balls played into the box to register his ninth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.

The fact that Bayern Munich were content to hold the ball for long periods and protect what had been attained was evidenced by trainer JUPP HEYNCKES’ decision to replace Germany international striker MARIO GOMEZ with Brazil international LUIZ GUSTAVO, a defensive midfielder, in the 65th minute.

Holland World Cup winger ARJEN ROBBEN was sent on with less than a quarter of an hour remaining to the resounding cheers of the crowd at the Allianz Arena. The Dangerous Dutchman, who was making his first appearance for Bayern Munich in more than a month, did not disappoint. Racing onto a brilliant ball from Schweinsteiger at the top of the box, Robben easily left-footed past the youthful Leno to strike for a second time in the German top flight this season and record his 30th career Bundesliga goal for Bayern Munich in the 90th minute of the match with Bayer Leverkusen.

Ausgezeichnet!

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In-form France World Cup winger FRANCK RIBERY of Bayern Munich, who has scored three goals and added five assists his first seven games in the top flight this season, attempts to fend off the challenge of Bayer Leverkusen’s new Germany international midfielder LARS BENDER (8) during the Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena in Bavaria.
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BAYERN MUNICH : Neuer – Rafinha, van Buyten, Badstuber, Lahm – Tymoshchuk, Schweinsteiger – Mueller, Kroos (Robben 78′), Ribery (Alaba 82′) – Gomez (Luiz Gustavo 65′)

BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Leno – da Costa (Bellarabi 65′), Reinartz, Toprak (Friedrich 86′), Castro – Balitsch, Bender, Rolfes – Renato Augusto, Sam – Kiessling

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Bayer 04 Leverkusen : Spieler Bericht 2011/12

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Germany international winger ANDRE SCHUERRLE (9) of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the expensive summer signing from FSV 05 Mainz who cost 8.0 million Euros, skips past the challenge of England World Cup fullback ASHLEY COLE during the recent UEFA Champions League Group E match at Stamford Bridge in west London; Schuerrle is suspended and will not play this Saturday against Bayern Munich in Bavaria.
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The early going of the 2011-12 campaign has proved itself to be a regular roller coaster ride for BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN and in-coming trainer ROBIN DUTT. The Werkself blew a three goal advantage while bowing out 4-3 to Dynamo Dresden in the D.F.B. Pokal and dropped their Bundesliga opener to FSV 05 Mainz, as well. But then Bayer Leverkusen put together a four-game unbeaten run featuring three victories and a tie with the defending champions to restore confidence amongst the faithful in North Rhine-Westphalia.

However, a shutout loss to FC Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League coupled with the surprising 4-1 defeat at home to lowly 1.FC Koeln last week leaves the Werkself, who have been battling injuries all season long, stuggling yet again and facing the prospect of a third consecutive failure against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Bavaria.

Bayer Leverkusen are hoping STEFAN KIESSLING can recapture the form that saw the Germany World Cup reserve striker finish second in the Bundesliga with a career-high 21 goals for the 2009-10 campaign. Kiessling had health issues last term and netted just seven goals in 22 league games for the Werkself. This season, the 27-year-old has netted twice in the first six Bundesliga matches for Bayer Leverkusen.

Competing for a place as the central attacker in the Bayer Leverkusen Startelf is Switzerland World Cup striker EREN DERDIYOK, whose production also took a nose-dive a year ago. After notching a 12 goals in 33 Bundesliga games (32 starts), the 23-year-old slumped to six goals in 32 league game (18 sts) for the Werkself over the 2010-11 campaign. Derdiyok, who has registed one goal this season, displaced Kiessling up front in the first two matches for Bayer Leverkusen but was then dropped before being restored to face 1.FC Koeln last week.

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One-time Germany U-21 international winger SIDNEY SAM (18) of Bayer Leverkusen, who is tied for the club lead with two goals Bundesliga goals this season, dribbles away from 19-year-old Germany international midfielder MARIO GOETZE of defending league champion Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match earlier this season at the Bay Arena in North Rhine-Westphalia; Sam is listed as doubtful for the match with Bayern Munich this weekend.
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Bayer Leverkusen took the cash this summer and sold talented Chile World Cup midfielder ARTURO VIDAL, who led the Werkself with 10 Bundesliga goals last term, to Italian Serie A side Juventus of Turin for a transfer fee of 10.5 million Euros.

After breaking out with 15 goals in 33 Bundesliga games for FSV 05 Mainz last season, 20-year-old Germany international winger ANDRE SCHUERRLE was snapped up by the Werkself this summer; although youngster has scored three goals on his last four appearances with trainer Joachim Loew’s national team and also struck on his debut in the D.F.B. Pokal against Dynamo Dresden, Schuerrle has yet to find the back of the net in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen.

23-year-old winger SIDNEY SAM scored 12 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season, but may join a few others on the sidelines. 26-year-old Switzerland World Cup midfielder TRANQUILLO BARNETTA, who has collected 59 caps while scoring eight goals for his country, and 20-year-old Colombian MICHAEL JAVIER ORTEGA, a summer signing out on loan to the Werkself from Mexican side CSD Atlas de Guadalajara for the season, are both out after undergoing knee operations. And, much like Sam, the 34-year-old veteran Germany international midfielder MICHAEL BALLACK has been listed as doubtful for the match with his former paymasters in Bavaria.

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Bayer Leverkusen’s soon-to-be 35-year-old midfielder MICHAEL BALLACK, who spent four seasons with Bayern Munich before leaving for English Premier League club FC Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer of 2006, ranks eighth on the all-time list for Germany with 42 goals scored from his 98 appearances for the national team.
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29-year-old club captain SIMON ROLFES, who has earned 24 caps and scored one goal for Germany in his career, and 22-year-old LARS BENDER, who just recently made his debut for Deutschland by coming on as a second half substitute for Rolfes in the international friendly with Poland earlier this month, will anchor the defensive midfield for Bayer Leverkusen.

The versatile Brazil international RENATO AUGUSTO will be a key man in the middle of the park either on the wing or in the center this season for Bayer Leverkusen; the 23-year-old midfielder, signed from Brazilian outfit CR Flamengo for a transfer fee thought to be 10.0 million Euros in the summer of 2008, scored seven goals in the Bundesliga last season.

30-year-old HANNO BALITSCH, the well-traveled veteran with one cap for Germany and on his second tour of duty with the Werkself, might have a bigger role to play in midfield for Bayer Leverkusen against Bayern Munich on Saturday depending upon the formation of the team and the fitness of others.

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Germany international defender STEFAN REINARTZ (3), the youth team product who was third on the Werkself with 29 starts in the Bundesliga last season, has been an ever-present on the back line in all eight matches contested by Bayer Leverkusen thus far this term.
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Bayer Leverkusen suffered a blow before the season even began back in early July when Germany international goalkeeper RENE ADLER was injured in a Testspiel with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. The 26-year-old capped ten times by his country has been first choice between the sticks for the Werkself the past four seasons and appeared in 127 of a possible 136 Bundesliga matches in that span. As a result of his knee operation, Adler could be out as long as six months.

29-year-old United States international goalkeeper DAVID YELLDELL was bought by Bayer Leverkuksen from D.F.B. Pokal Finalist MSV Duisburg for the nominal fee of 250,000 Euros but the German-born netminder has not featured for the Werkself since the debacle against Dynamo Dresden in the German Cup. 21-year-old FABIAN GIEFER, who has been the back-up to Adler the past few seasons, started the Bundesliga opener for Bayer Leverkusen but also went down injured has been replaced by Germany youth international BERND LENO. The inexperienced 19-year-old out on loan for the season from Vfb Stuttgart has done well overall and became only the third goalkeeper to ever record shutouts in his first three Bundesliga contests.

22-year-old STEFAN REINARTZ, who earned his only cap for Germany a couple of seasons ago as a substitute against Malta, and 22-year-old OMER TOPRAK, the 3.0 million Euro summer purchase from SC Freiburg, have partnered each other in the center of defense for Bayer Leverkusen in every game of all competitions this season. GONZALO CASTRO, the 24-year-old with five caps for Germany, has started five games at right back for the Werkelf thus far. The regular left back is 26-year-old MICHAL KADLEC but the Czech Republic international (27 caps, 4 go) is suspended and will miss the match with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Former Germany U-21 international defender DANIEL SCHWAAB deputized for Kadlec last week against 1.FC Koeln but the 23-year-old is another player whose fitness for this Saturday is reportedly in question; with 22-year-old BASTIAN OCZIPKA also out injured, the 18-year-old DANNY DA COSTA could make his Bundesliga debut for Bayer Leverkusen on defense against mighty Bayern Munich.

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19-year-old Germany youth international goalkeeper BERND LENO (23) of Bayer Leverkusen leaps in between a pair of senior internationals for the Werkself, striker STEFAN KIESSLING (11) and defender STEFAN REINARTZ (3), to punch the ball clear against FC Augsburg during the Bundesliga match at the SGL Arena in Bavaria earlier this season.
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BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN
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Arriving
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gk – David YELLDELL – United States int’l ——- fr MSV Duisburg
gk – Bernd LENO ———————————————- fr Vfb Stuttgart
df – Constant DJAKPA – Ivory Coast int’l ——— fr Hannover 96
df – Omer TOPRAK —————————————— fr SC Freiburg
df – Bastian OCZIPKA ————————————– fr FC St. Pauli
mf – Marcel RISSE ——————————————- fr FSV 05 Mainz
mf – Andre SCHUERRLE – Germany int’l ——— fr FSV 05 Mainz
mf – Burak KAPLAN – Turkey ————————- fr SpVgg Greuther Fuerth
mf – Zvonko PAMIC – Croatia ————————– fr SC Freiburg
mf – Michael Javier ORTEGA – Colombia ——— fr Atlas de Guadalajara (Mex)
fw – Richard SAKUTA PASU —————————- fr FC St. Pauli
fw – Karim BELLARABI ———————————— fr Eintracht Braunschweig

(Djakpa had been out on loan at Hannover 96 since the start of the 2009-10 season, Oczipka and Sakuta-Pasu had been out on loan to FC St. Pauli of Hamburg since January of 2010, Pamic had been out on loan to SC Freiburg for the 2010-11 season, Risse had been out on loan to FSV 05 Mainz for the 2010-11 season, Kaplan had been out on loan to 2.Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fuerth since January of 2011; Leno and Ortega are out on loan to Bayer Leverkusen for the 2011-12 season)

Departing
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df – Sami HYPPIA – Finland int’l ———————- retired
df – Constant DJAKPA – Ivory Coast —————- to Eintracht Frankfurt
df – Domagoj VIDA – Croatia int’l ——————— to GNK Dinamo Zagreb (Cro)
mf – Arturo VIDAL – Chile int’l ————————- to FC Juventus Turin (Ita)
mf – Marcel RISSE ——————————————– to FSV 05 Mainz
mf – Burak KAPLAN – Turkey ————————– to JK Beskitas Istanbul (Trk)
mf – Zvonko PAMIC – Croatia ————————— to MSV Duisburg
fw – Richard SAKUTA PASU —————————– to 1.FC Kaiserslautern

(Pamic is out on loan for the 2011-12 season)

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Bayer Leverkusen 2 – CF Villarreal 3

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Germany international midfielder and Bayer Leverkusen captain SIMON ROLFES (center) looks to squeeze between the CF Villarreal defensive pair of Spain international midfielder BRUNO SORIANO (left) and Argentine center back MATEO MUSACCHIO at the BayArena in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Patrik Stollarz/AFP)
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UEFA Europa League
Round of 16, first leg
3/10/2011

2 – Bayer Leverkusen (GER) ———— Kadlec 33′, Castro 72′
3 – CF Villarreal (SPA) ——————— Rossi 42′, Nilmar 70′, 90+4′

A very late goal fourth minutes into time added on allowed visiting Spanish La Liga side CF VILLARREAL to upend German Bundesliga club BAYER LEVERKUSEN 3-2 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round of 16 tie.

Brazil international striker NILMAR, who has netted 11 goals in 22 La Liga games this season, scored twice after coming on as a second half substitute to greatly aid the Yellow Submarine’s sinking of the Werkself; CF Villarreal, currently fourth in the Spanish top flight this term, only managed four attempts at goal for the match but got all of them on target and scored three times..

Bayer Leverkusen, the second place team in the German first division, had more than twice as many shots for the game but, nevertheless, saw its ten-game unbeaten streak in Europe this campaign snapped by the visitors; trainer JUPP HEYNCKES, who steered Real Madrid to the UEFA Champions League title in 1998, and his charges now face an uphill battle for the return leg in Spain next week.

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Czech Republic international fullback MICHAL KADLEC (24) steps into steal the ball away from CF Villarreal midfielder BORJA VALERO (20), who spent all last season out on loan at Real Mallorca from English outfit West Bromwich Albion, at the BayArena in western Germany. (Juergen Schwarz/DAPD)
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Adler – Vida, Schwaab, Reinartz, Kadlec – Vidal, Rolfes (Bender 89′) – Sam (Jorgensen 76′), Renato Augusto, Castro – Derdiyok (Kiessling 46′)

CF VILLARREAL : Lopez – Mario, Gonzalo, Marchena, Catala – Valero, Musacchio, Bruno, Wakaso (Cazorla 61′) – Ruben (Oriol 84′), Rossi (Nilmar 69′)

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(Frank Augstein/AP)
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(Martin Meissner/AP)
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(Frank Augstein/AP)
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(Martin Meissner/AP)

Bayer Leverkusen 2 – FC Metalist Kharkiv 0

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Germany international midfielder MICHAEL BALLACK (left) of Bayer Leverkusen, who has contested just seven matches in the Bundesliga this season, settles the ball ahead of FC Metalist Kharkiv’s Senegalese defender PAPA GUEYE during the UEFA Europa League knockout Round of 32 second leg match at the BayArena in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Roberto Pfeil/DAPD)
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UEFA Europa League
Round of 32
2/24/2010

2 – Bayer Leverkusen (GER) ————— Rolfes 47′, Ballack 70′
0 – FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)

A couple of second half goals from a pair of veteran internationals was more than required as German Bundesliga club BAYER LEVERKUSEN defeated visiting Ukrainian side FC METALIST KHARKIV 2-0 and will decisively advance (6-0 on aggregate) to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

Bayer Leverkusen captain and midfielder SIMON ROLFES, who has earned 21 caps and scored one goal in his career for Germany, ran onto the ball of Brazil international winger RENATO AUGUSTO and shot past advancing FC Metalist Kharkiv’s Serbia international goalkeeper VLADIMIR DISLJENKOVIC to give the Werkself a 1-0 lead just after the restart.

34-year-old MICHAEL BALLACK, who has played for Germany 98 times and scored 42 goals but hampered by injury all season, was given the start in defensive midfield by Bayer Leverkusen trainer JUPP HEYNCKES and added a second goal for the Werkself in the 70th minute with his second strike in the UEFA Europa League this term.

Bayer Leverkusen, currently second in the Bundesliga, completely dominated in the shots-at-goal department with a 13-3 advantage; Germany international goalkeeper RENE ADLER was required to stop just two efforts, both from FC Metalist Kharkiv’s Ukraine international striker MARKO DEVIC.

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(Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images)
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Adler – Vida, Schwaab, Friedrich, Castro – Ballack, Bender (Vidal 46′) – Renato Augusto (da Costa 64′), Rolfes (Kampl 64′), Jorgensen – Kiessling

FC METALIST KHARKIV : Disljenkovic – Romanchuk, Obradovic, Gueye, Fininho – Xavier (Vorobei 76′), Shelayev – Oliynyk, Blanco – Devic (Cristaldo 57′), Taison (Valyayev 57′)

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(Martin Meissner/AP)
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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FC Metalist Kharkiv 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 4

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A sliding Brazilian defender FININHO of FC Metalist Kharkiv tackles the ball away from fellow Brazilian RENATO AUGUSTO, the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder who is believed to have cost 10.0 million Euros when bought by the German club from CR Flamengo in the summer of 2008, at the Oblast Sports Complex Metalist in northeast Ukraine. (Sergei Supinsky/AP)
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UEFA Europa League
Round of 32
2/17/2011

0 – FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
4 – Bayer Leverkusen (GER) ——— Derdiyok 23′, Castro 72′, Sam 90′, 90+2′

Another strong defensive effort in Europe augmented by a late flurry of goals enabled visiting German side BAYER LEVERKUSEN, the current # 2 team in the Bundesliga, to brush off the harsh temperatures and post a big 4-0 victory over FC METALIST KHARKIV in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 knockout tie.

Switzerland World Cup striker EREN DERDIYOK, who scored 12 goals in the Bundesliga for the Werkself last season but has seen his league total drop to just three this term, opened Bayer Leverkusen’s account in the 27th minute with his second goal in Europe this campaign.

Germany international midfielder GONZALO CASTRO, a second half substitute, was credited with a critical second half goal — his second strike in Europe this term — in the 72nd minute after newly-capped Brazil international midfielder RENATO AUGUSTO made a threatening run into the box.

Former Germany U-21 international winger SIDNEY SAM applied the coup de grace with two late tallies for Bayer Leverkusen; the 23-year-old winger has now scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, the second-highest total for the Werkself this term.

With the clean sheet collected in the cold of wintertime Ukraine, Bayer Leverkusen now total six shutouts in nine UEFA Europa League matches played this season, as well.

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FC METALIST KHARKIV : Disljenkovic – Villagra, Obadovic, Pshenychnykh (Berezovchuk 15′), Fininho – Valyayev – Blanco, Xavier – Oliynyk, Cristaldo (Lysenko 68′), Taison

BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Adler – Vida, Friedrich, Reinartz, Kadlec – Vidal, Bender – Sam, Renato Augusto (Rolfes 75′), Balitsch (Castro 46) – Derdiyok (Kiessling 79′)

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(Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
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(Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
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(Gleb Garanich/Reuters)
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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Dortmund Do Not Miss A Beat, Lick Leverkusen Away

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22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender STEFAN REINARTZ, who earned his first cap for Germany earlier this season, slides tackles the ball away from Borussia Dortmund’s Poland international winger JAKUB BLASZCZYKOWSKI during the top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash at the BayArena in North-Rhine Westphalia. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
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Despite the absence of its top two goal-scorers this season, a three-goal Blitz within the first ten minutes following the halftime break enabled domestic leaders BORUSSIA DORTMUND to defeat its closest challenger, BAYER LEVERKUSEN, 3-1 in a top of the table Bundesliga clash this weekend.

A pair of glaring errors by the center of the Bayer Leverkusen defense permitted 22-year-old Germany international winger KEVIN GROSSKREUTZ to cooly finish twice for his fifth and sixth Bundesliga goals of the season, seven in all competitions, then, for Borussia Dortmund this season.

18-year-old Germany international MARIO GOETZE assumed the role of attacking central midfielder in place of the normal regular in that position this term for die Schwarzgelben, Japan international SHINJI KAGAWA, who is currently away competing for his country at the AFC Asian Cup.

Kagawa, along with Paraguay World Cup striker LUCAS BARRIOS, is the joint top-scorer this campaign with eight goals in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund, but Goetze proved himself a worthy replacement by adding a third goal for die Schwarzgelben inside the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Following a tackle by Grosskreutz, the teenager Goetze waltzed in on Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper RENE ADLER and casually shot the ball through the Germany international custodian’s wickets for his third goal in the Bundesliga this season.

Germany World Cup reserve striker STEFAN KIESSLING, the second leading scorer in all the Bundesliga with 21 goals for Bayer Leverkusen last season who has battled fitness for the most part this 2010-11 schedule, struck for a goal in the 80th minute, but it was entirely too little too late for trainer JUPP HEYNCKES’ team.

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(Frank Augstein/AP)
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Adler – Schwaab, Friedrich, Reinartz, Castro – L. Bender (Vidal 60′), Rolfes – Renato Augusto, Sam (Barnetta 60′) – Helmes (Derdiyok 60′), Kiessling

BORUSSIA DORTMUND : Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer – S. Bender (da Silva 46′), Sahin – Blaszczykowski, Goetze (Barrios 68′), Grosskreutz (Felipe Santana 87′) – Lewandowski

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(Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images)
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Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images)
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(Ina Fassbender/Reuters)
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(Ina Fassbender/Reuters)
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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Bayer Leverkusen 1 – Atletico Madrid 1

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Germany international striker PATRICK HELMES (left) of Bayer Leverkusen, who leads the Werkself with four goals in the UEFA Europa League this season, and Atletico Madrid defender JUAN VALERA battle for the ball on the snow-covered pitch at the Bay Arena in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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UEFA Europa League
Group Stage
12/16/2010

1 – Bayer Leverkusen (GER) ——— Helmes 69′
1 – Atletico Madrid (SPA) ————- Merida 72′

BAYER LEVERKUSEN continues its UEFA Europa League campaign unbeaten with the 1-1 draw against Spanish La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid — the Bundesliga’s second place side finished first in Group B with three wins from six matches.

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(Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images)
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20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen reserve goalkeeper FABIAN GIEFER (36) collects the ball safely ahead of Atletico Madrid’s 22-year-old Argentina World Cup reserve striker SERGIO AGUERO (10), who cost a reported 23.0 million Euros when purchased from South American club CA Independiente in May of 2006, at the Bay Arena. (Frank Augstein/AP)
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN : Giefer – Castro (da Costa 46′), Schwaab, Hyypia, Vida – Bender (Vidal 88′), Balitlsch – Kaplan, Renato Augusto (Kiessling 46′) – Jorgensen, Helmes

ATLETICO MADRID : De Gea – Valera, Perea, Dominguez, Filipe – Assuncao, Suarez (Tiago 84′) – Garcia, Simao (Merida 71′) – Forlan (Costa 67′), Aguero

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Bayer Leverkusen midfielder HANNO BALITSCH (14) clears the ball away from Uruguay World Cup striker DIEGO FORLAN, for whom Atletico Madrid paid a transfer fee of 21.0 million Euros to CF Villarreal in June of 2007, as the snow falls at the Bay Arena in western Germany. (Frank Augstein/AP)

Goalkeeping In A Winter Wonderland

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(Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images) — “Holy cow farts in Denmark, this is ridiculous. There is absolutely nothing in my playing contract that says anything about this! And these Progressive Liberal morons want to tax the snot out of my salary so I can pay for a bunch of carbon credits I neither need nor want?…” Atletico Madrid’s 20-year-old first choice goalkeeper DAVID DE GEA thinks to himself while his intestinal fortitude suffers a wardrobe malfunction at the Bay Arena in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
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(Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images) — “What a fucking mamby-pamby pussy,” 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen reserve goalkeeper FABIAN GIEFER muses while looking over his shoulder at his Spanish counterpart shivering his face off at the other end. “Wear a warm sweatshirt underneath your game jersey, jackass…”