Some football matches are forgettable. And then there are games like this – a 0-0 draw that felt like anything but. Bayer 04 completely outclassed Bayern Munich, dominated every aspect of the game, and left the so-called "Rekordmeister" looking like mere spectators. The only thing missing? A goal.
The BayArena was packed, the atmosphere electric. From the first whistle, it was clear: only one team had shown up to play football – and they were wearing black and red. Bayern? They seemed more interested in avoiding a loss than actually competing. When was the last time a Bayern Munich side failed to register a single shot on target in a Bundesliga match? Exactly. Meanwhile, Bayer 04 rained down 15 attempts on goal, only to be thwarted by Manuel Neuer’s reflexes – and, apparently, a goalpost that had secretly switched allegiances.
The agony reached its peak in the 60th minute when Nathan Tella’s spectacular bicycle kick narrowly missed the net. Five minutes later, his header was cleared off the line by Hiroki Ito. And then, stoppage time: Amine Adli, back from injury, saw his header land straight in Neuer’s arms, and Florian Wirtz’s shot whizzed just past the post. Bayer fans held their heads in disbelief. Meanwhile, Bayern had probably already started warming up their bus for the ride home, relieved beyond words.
Still, this wasn’t just a good performance – it was a statement. Granit Xhaka summed it up perfectly: “I can’t remember Bayern having a single shot.” And that’s the key takeaway here. Bayer weren’t just the better team – they were superior in every possible way. Holding 81% possession against Bayern, pinning them back in their own half, and dictating the game for 90 minutes? That’s no small feat.
But football can be cruel. Maybe the football gods are saving the reward for later. Maybe this was just a warning shot for the battles to come. Who knows?
One thing is certain: this team is ready for the title. And if they keep playing like this, luck will have no choice but to finally side with them. Next stop: Holstein Kiel. A newly promoted team that won’t make the mistake of underestimating Bayer 04. The mission is clear: just put the ball in the net. Everything else is already perfect.