The most beautiful thing about Bayer’s second trophy is not the football. These photos of the sunset and fireworks are a delight
Grigory Telingater May 25, 2024, 23:50 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Fantastic atmosphere in the Berlin stadium, where the Euro 2024 final will be played. And Alonso’s team beat the outsider in the German Cup final.
After the only defeat of the season, Xabi Alonso made five changes at once. Main goalkeeper Hradecki also returned to base. He remained on the bench for the rest of the German Cup matches, but came on from the first minutes in the final against Kaiserslautern.
Bayer started the game with confidence. In the first 15 minutes he created several dangerous chances. Wirtz was very close to opening the scoring, but Xhaka managed it. His trademark one-touch shot from distance helped. We’ve already seen it from him this season. The important thing here was also that the Kaiserslautern goalkeeper did not see the moment of impact because the defender blocked his view.
Gol Xhaka
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
The Bayer players celebrated the goal in a rather strange way: by holding their legs. Maybe later the players will say what this meant (or maybe nothing).
Xhaka’s goal celebration
Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Bayer did not slow down after the goal. Still he controlled the ball and created more opportunities than the opponent. Due to the pressure, Alonso’s team quickly recovered the ball. It seemed that such a Bayer team could have no problems against the 13th team in the Second Bundesliga, but it turned out differently.
In the first half, the referee showed two yellow cards. Both to Kossun. It is surprising that the defender, having been warned, played so carelessly. He stepped on a spiked opponent’s foot. The referee immediately showed a second yellow card. From the 44th minute onwards, Bayer played in the minority.
Second yellow card for Kossun
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
Kaiserslautern’s chances began to appear immediately. Even in added time in the first half, Bayer was very close to conceding the goal. And immediately after the break, the ball hit the post several times and, on another occasion, Hradecki made a great save.
At the beginning of the second half, both goalkeepers tried to hit the ball instead of catching it. Visibility was poor due to fireworks. In addition, the fireworks show was carried out simultaneously by fans of both teams. The match even had to be interrupted for five minutes. Admittedly, along with the sunset, rainbow, and lightning, it looked amazing. It is as if it were a neural network and not images of a real transmission.
Atmosphere in the Berlin stadium
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
Atmosphere in the Berlin stadium
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
Atmosphere in the Berlin stadium
Photo: Frame of the transmission.
Time passed and Kaiserslautern still did not score. And after the expulsion it seemed that possession of the ball had been equalized, but Bayer adapted to playing in the minority. After the changes, Leverkusen regained control of the match and once again created dangerous chances. There would have been even more if Frimpong had not slipped twice on the ball in the opponent’s area.
And yet, no one else scored: Xhaka’s goal remained the only one. Bayer takes two titles this season. Now in the Super Cup match he will play with the second team of the Bundesliga. And it’s not about Bayern, which finished third, but about Stuttgart. Thanks to Bayer’s victory in the Cup final, Hoffenheim moved to the Europa League and Heidenheim to the Conference League.
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