Leverkusen Drop Points Again in 1-1 Draw at Bochum

VfL Bochum Hold Bayer Leverkusen to 1-1 Draw

“We have to do that better. We have to keep working on that and learn to handle it and secure the three points...”

Koji Miyoshi's 89th-minute goal earned VfL Bochum a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, denying the champions a win.

Koji Miyoshi's 89th-minute strike secured a crucial 1-1 draw for VfL Bochum against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Miyoshi's close-range goal rescued a point for Bochum, denying Leverkusen a 1-0 victory and giving new coach Dieter Hecking a promising start.

The draw marked Leverkusen's third consecutive stalemate and fifth in six league games, while Bochum earned only their second point in 10 matches.

Patrik Schick had given Leverkusen an 18th-minute lead, courtesy of Florian Wirtz's exceptional pass. Schick's shot hit the post and rolled in after slipping through the goalkeeper's legs.

Despite being outmuscled in attack, Bochum's resilient defense kept Leverkusen at bay. However, their lack of clinical finishing seemed destined to cost them until Miyoshi's late equalizer.

“We're experiencing déjà vu, similar to the Kiel game,” Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso noted in the post-match press conference.

Bayern Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso expressed frustration after his team conceded a late equalizer, stating, “We again could not finish the game with a win and conceded before the end an equaliser.” He emphasized the need for improvement, adding, “We have to do that better. We have to keep working on that and learn to handle it and secure the three points.”

This setback echoed Leverkusen's recent struggle to hold leads, as they previously squandered a two-goal advantage against Holstein Kiel, settling for a 2-2 draw.

Analyzing the match, Alonso noted, “Bochum were disciplined at the back and we did not do well in the last third of the pitch.” He candidly admitted, ”We just were not good enough.”

The draw left Leverkusen in fourth place with 17 points, trailing leaders Bayern Munich by nine points. The team's recent struggles were compounded by a 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League.