"Not Now, Darling, It's Stoppage Time!" – Bayer Leverkusen and the Art of Last-Minute Goals

On Matchday 31 of the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen once again demonstrated that the game is not over until the referee blows the whistle – not a second sooner. In a nerve-wracking match against VfB Stuttgart, which made many hearts in the BayArena beat faster, the Werkself secured a 2-2 draw thanks to Robert Andrich's goal in the very last second of the game.

The match began with a bold change in the starting lineup by head coach Xabi Alonso, who brought in four new players, including Odilon Kossounou for Piero Hincapie and Exequiel Palacios for the suspended Granit Xhaka. These fresh forces were meant to help intensify the high pressing and offensive pressure – a strategy that saw Leverkusen dominate the early minutes. Despite some brilliant chances from Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick, the ball just wouldn’t find the net.

After the halftime break, the guests from Stuttgart seemed to get into the game better and quickly scored a 2-0 lead through Chris Führich and Deniz Undav. But the Werkself did not let up. Led by an indefatigable Amine Adli and creative support from Grimaldo, Leverkusen began an impressive comeback. Adli's goal not only brought the team back into the game but also revived the fans.

The final minutes at the BayArena were not for the faint-hearted. Leverkusen pressed, Stuttgart defended with everything they had, and then came the moment for Robert Andrich: A free kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time found its way to his feet, and with a precise shot, he not only saved a point but also the incredible streak of 46 matches undefeated across competitions.

This dramatic evening further underscores why you should never leave before the final whistle when Bayer 04 is playing. The ability to decide games in the last minutes has not only delivered spectacular moments but also set a new Bundesliga record: nine points this season through goals after the 90th minute.

Looking ahead: The team now travels to Rome to compete in the semi-final first leg of the UEFA Europa League before continuing in the Bundesliga against Eintracht Frankfurt. Coach Xabi Alonso will be missing there due to a suspension, but if one thing is certain, it's that his players know how to fight until the last moment.

The Werkself has once again proven that anything is possible in football – especially in stoppage time. Or as the saying goes: "Not now, darling, it's stoppage time!" – at least, when Bayer Leverkusen is playing.