Leiria - The stadium gave off the dreary atmosphere of a district sports complex. It had arrived just once in 1800 and a handful of Portuguese supporters Bayer travelers in the arena to support their team. Ghost game instead cauldron!
With Eurocapup the 3-2 victory for the Portuguese did (2:1), of course, have had precious little to do. It does not matter (from Bayer's perspective), it was on!
It would indeed be a respectable game as compensation. But what were the pros, despite the Bayer 3:1-comfortable home victory, which fit beautifully into the bleak atmosphere. Against a mediocre opponent, who won in six games in Portugal is not a victory, they had verdaddelt the entry into the group stage, almost frivolous.
Overbearing and arrogant, they began with a shot of the game. After 180 seconds and were already in arrears. Intelligence chief Manuel Friedrich had forgotten his opponent, Cadu thanked him and shot detached ein.Der false start was perfect. The tremor began.
For a short time caused Papadoupolos Michal, who slid in for the injured knee, Bernd Schneider to the team with the 1-1 that the faces of Bayer's bosses were a bit more relaxed. But almost in return, just two minutes later, saw Maciel found that the runaway favorites in the camp there was consternation.
Sporting director Rudi Voeller was in the break hardly curb his anger, he spoke of a lack of attitude. "Normally, we are better than your opponent," quipped nations, "but only if we go with 100 percent attitude to business. So far, this was much too little."
Why the Bayer ensemble lacked motivation, could not answer even the ex-coach. Finally, it was a lot at stake. Not only important issues for German participants in the European Cup rankings, but five million euro revenues that would be a wave attack to the semifinals.
At least two of them in mid-term catastrophic errors were made, the team of coach Michael Skibbe ripped belt. So we had to tremble until the last second. As a referee Costas Kapitanis the unspeakable event last Final Whistle, Bayer was the target achieved. But could the players do not enjoy. Not even a smile crossed her lips, because they knew that what they had just delivered there was too embarrassing.
Also of interest
The images from the game against Leverkusen Leiria
