Bundesliga champions fend off a late St Pauli scare for third straight league win as injuries and schedule bite
Jonathan Tah joins Bayer Leverkusen mascot Brian the Lion after the defender’s goal proves the difference against St Pauli.Jonathan Tah joins Bayer Leverkusen mascot Brian the Lion after the defender’s goal proves the difference against St Pauli.
Yet personnel is one thing – retaining the relentless standards of the last campaign is proving something else. There have been hiccups – defensive gremlins, occasional wandering of individual and collective focus and a hefty helping of injuries, perhaps predictabe given the increased volume and workload of a Champions League campaign.
However, lessons have been learned. Leverkusen are only third at the moment not because they have stacked up poor performances and not because of some existential wobble, but mainly because of the three successive draws they registered from the end of October leading up to the mid-November break for internationals.
Antonio Rüdiger’s defensive partner for Germany is out of contract at the end of the season and Leverkusen’s acceptance that he will leave is at the point that no further offers are expected to Zahavi or the player. “Jonathan is a top guy and a top leader,” said Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes to Sky. “We are currently happy that he is with us. Everyone knows each other’s position.
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