{"id":1145110,"date":"2020-06-14T19:25:59","date_gmt":"2020-06-14T18:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1145110"},"modified":"2020-06-14T20:43:41","modified_gmt":"2020-06-14T19:43:41","slug":"schalke-leverkusen-bundesliga-analysis-wendell-bozdogan","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/schalke-leverkusen-bundesliga-analysis-wendell-bozdogan\/","title":{"rendered":"How Schalke’s current side just did the club’s team of ’93 a big favour in 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen draw"},"content":{"rendered":"

Schalke 04 and Bayer Leverkusen played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga on Sunday afternoon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hosts, who fielded their youngest starting XI in the league since December 2016, were seemingly on course to grab a much-needed win but Leverkusen managed to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat.<\/p>\n

Leverkusen subsequently find themselves sitting in the Champions League places with destiny firmly in their hands. As for the Royal Blues, it’s another game without tasting victory.<\/p>\n

Naturally, there were individual winners and losers. Here are three of each from this encounter.<\/p>\n

Winner: Wendell<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Having an industrious full-back that loves to get forward is a major plus in the modern game. Leverkusen are fortunate to call upon uncapped Brazilian left-back Wendell, who in recent weeks has forced his way back into Peter Bosz’s lineup. After Sunday’s performance, the chances of him being dropped must be low.<\/p>\n

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Wendell was involved in everything Leverkusen did positively. No one on the pitch touched the ball more times (144), and he played a key role in their equaliser. His cut-back seemed destined for compatriot Paulinho, who had just come on moments earlier, but it was blocked. That being said, Juan Miranda — Wendell’s opposite number — inadvertently put the ball into his own net.<\/p>\n

Loser: Kai Havertz<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A few months ago, Bayer Leverkusen manager Bosz stated<\/a> that midfielder Kai Havertz will command a transfer fee of \u20ac100m, a belief very few would disagree with given his unquestionable talent and upside. The native of Aachen, who turned 21 a few days earlier, had been making transfer headlines with a number of Europe’s superclubs reportedly keen to acquire his signature this summer.<\/p>\n

Sunday’s game in Gelsenkirchen was a comeback of sorts after he missed Leverkusen’s last two games due to injury. With all eyes on him to make an immediate impact after returning to Bosz’s starting line-up, Havertz was uncharacteristically subdued, losing possession and not being his usual threat in the final third. He’d ultimately play 70 minutes before making way for Kevin Volland.<\/p>\n

Winner: Can Bozdogan<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How's your touch? ?? pic.twitter.com\/Q50zqZhLkS<\/a><\/p>\n

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 14, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n