How will Leverkusen Fare This Season

dostoevsky wrote:Easily the most entertaining team to watch in Europe last year, they were unfortunate to crash out against Basel in a tie in which the momentum swung wildly throughout.

They were not unfortunate to crash out against Basel. They came up against Yann Sommer in beast mode (they scored at least one goal in the last 61 matches until they finally met their master)  

They were unfortunate to come up against the best keeper in the competition before the final

If Leverkusen don't survive the CL play-off while BMG survive the EL play-off, this could happen to the next Roger Schmidt team, too. ^^

Yann Sommer is overrated imo.

Sommer Yann is overrated imo.

You're just jealous.

I'm better looking than him.

Sommer is a top 5 keeper ffs

Hapless_Hans wrote:I'm better looking than him.

Pics or pls go

On topic, this is good news for 'Straya, I think Robbie Kruse will continue to progress under his tutelage.

I hope they don't draw Lille or Bilbao. Hope they are good enough to win against the other three.

Now that they have made it to the CL, what do you expect of them this season???

I think their squad, both in quality and depth, is inferior than that of Schalke. I would be satisfied with a T4 (T3, preferably) finish, R16 in CL and SF (or beyond) in Cup.

Well, depending on the group, they really should qualify for R16, although it really might get tricky with their high-energy playing style and Roger Schmidt's unwillingness to rotate the players. I hope they won't get into injury troubles as the season gets older.

Leverkusen have less impressive top players than Schalke, yes, but they also have to carry less scrubs and have the far superior coach.

I say Leverkusen make it to 3rd in the Bundesliga this season, and if they don't exactly draw a group of death, they'll make it out of there.

They'll crash out to the first top team they meet in the knockouts of course, I just don't see Roger Schmidt conjuring up the kind of mentality you need to cause an upset within just one season.

VivaStPauli wrote:
They'll crash out to the first top team they meet in the knockouts of course, I just don't see Roger Schmidt conjuring up the kind of mentality you need to cause an upset within just one season.

I am willing to give him benefit of doubt, specially after that Dortmund performance

The win against Dortmund wasn't magnificently defying the odds, though, it was winning 1-0 against a Dortmund team with 8 missing starters, and for the last 30 minutes, Dortmund were laying siege to the Bayer penalty area.

Not to take too much away from the win, but I think that was just them playing well against an opponent that was, on the day, beatable. I want Leverkusen to actually put a top team to the sword for once. To win a match where they're clear underdogs. Bury a objectively big tie, even if it's not against the strongest of opposition, like knocking Marseille out of the UCL, or Benfica, something like that.

Doesn't have to be Real or Chelsea. You know. Just be there when it counts for once.

I say Leverkusen make it to 3rd in the Bundesliga this season, and if they don't exactly draw a group of death, they'll make it out of there.

I would be pretty happy with that, along with a deep run into the Cup. I don't think anybody is expecting any sensation from them, stability & consistency is what everybody is looking for.

VivaStPauli wrote:Doesn't have to be Real or Chelsea. You know. Just be there when it counts for once.

Although it would be nice if they could actually manage to defeat Barca for once, and if it was just a meagre 1:0.

I know the past scars are too strong for us , when we think about Leverkusen. But I was more impressed with the way they pressed Dortmund and their organisation. It was Leverkusen's organisation and pressin that completely dismantled Dortmund's movement in the final third.

I am expecting that Levekusen may struggle to get three points against teams in BL, who themselves defend in their own half and counterattack. But I may be wrong since I havent seen them play yet against such teams. I am giving that chance to them, thinking that they will defend well against big teams and will just manage to score 1 goal and bring that unexpected upset.

I still remember how the single Barca match (in 2011, I think..?) turned me against Barca instantly. I still remember how Busquets body-checked Gonzalo Castro over the sideline with no intention to go for the ball, Castro slamming into the side advertisements, getting up, shaking himself, only to get a bullshit yellow from the ref, and the Biscuit getting a free kick.

Not that Barca were really at fault for the ref being shitty, but boy did it make me angry.

They have drawn Benfica, Monaco & Zenit. Thoughts...

It's an oddly competitive group, each team could advance, though I believe Zenit will be the team to fall short. I think Leverkusen will advance, I simply can't decide between Benfica and Monaco at this stage, I've yet to watch Monaco this season to see how their new arrivals are settling in.

TBH judging on squad and chemistry, Leverkusen should get out of that group. Not a huge embarassment if they don't, but they really should, even if they come in 2nd.

I would be tempted to call it "choking" if they went out.

Would anyone upload some clips from yesterday's game...

http://footyroom.com/bayer-leverkusen-3-3-werder-bremen-2014-09/

Brilliant goals but terrible defending from Schmidts side.

Seems like they have found their old 'form'

Neverkusen