Kai Havertz on target again but Bayer Leverkusen frustrated by Nuremberg
Kai Havertz scored his fourth goal of the season but it was not enough for Bayer Leverkusen in a 1-1 draw away to Nuremberg on Monday evening.
Nuremberg 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Havertz (30'), 1-1 Margreitter (56')
The rain-soaked pitch made for tricky conditions at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, but the visitors still managed to make their presence felt early on and soon had a stranglehold on proceedings. Sven Bender's deflected shot that looped onto the crossbar was the first warning sign before Havertz gave Leverkusen the lead their dominance deserved, coolly chipping in at the back post after Fabian Bredlow's attempted punch clear landed at his feet.
The guests looked set to build on their lead in the second half when Kevin Volland's fierce volley flashed wide of the far post early on. Yet despite their superiority Leverkusen were unable to find the net again, allowing the home team to grow in hope and confidence as the match wore on, and they were rewarded when Georg Margreitter's deflected shot levelled the score. Leverkusen looked more likely to grab a winner in the closing stages but Nuremberg managed to hold on for a valuable point.
Match stats
- This was the first of five Bundesliga games to be played on a Monday this season.Havertz has now scored four goals this term, meaning he already has more than he managed in the whole of last season and equalling his own personal best from 2016/17.Nuremberg's 19-year-old defender Kevin Goden made his full Bundesliga debut in this match.Margreitter's goal was his first in the Bundesliga.Nuremberg have now conceded 30 goals this season, more than any other club in the Bundesliga
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Line-ups
Nuremberg: Bredlow – Goden, Margreitter, Mühl, Leibold – Misidjan, Petrak (Erras 46'), Behrens (c), Kerk (Palacios 76'), Kubo (Zrelak 58') – Ishak
Unused subs: Klandt, Ewerton, Pereira, Rhein
Absentees: Bauer (suspended), Lippert (knee), Löwen (knee), Mathenia (tendon), Valentini (thigh)
Coach: Michael Köllner
Leverkusen: Hradecky – L. Bender (c), Dragovic, S. Bender (Wendell 46'), Jedvaj – Kohr (Alario 79'), Aranguiz - Bellarabi, Havertz, Brandt (Bailey 66') - Volland
Unused subs: Özcan, Weiser, Paulinho, Baumgartlinger
Absentees: Pohjanpalo (ankle), Retsos (thigh), Tah (illness)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich
Watch: Havertz: "Made up my mind to be more dangerous"
As it happened