Football singularity

Chapter 743 Bayern (End)

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[2021-04-20 | Allianz Arena, Munich | 21:00 CET]

[Bundesliga MW 30: FC Bayern Munich 1 vs 0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

[75’]

The pass cut across the box into where Rakim and Alaba came racing in trying to reach the ball first. The winger arrived at full stride, striking it first time with his left foot, driving the ball low toward the far corner. Neuer reacted sharply, throwing out his right arm as he dove across the goal. His fingertips grazed the ball, but it had too much pace, forcefully bending his fingers backwards.

It skimmed past his outstretched hand, staying low, hugging the turf as it nestled into the far post. The net shook lightly as the ball entered, followed by jubilant shouts from the away fans. Rakim had already spun away from the goal, sprinting toward the corner flag, arms spread wide, before going into his griddy celebration.

"GOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!" Derek Rae’s voice shattered the silence, rising to a fever pitch. "RAKIM REX! HE’S DONE IT AGAIN! LEVERKUSEN TAKE THE LEAD!"

"Look at that buildup," Robson said, replaying the goal on the monitors. "Demirbay wins it, finds Rakim, who plays Frimpong free. Frimpong drives forward, cuts it back to Alario, who squares it across the box. And Rakim finishes with ice in his veins. That is elite-level attacking football."

On the touchline, Peter Bosz pumped his fist once, then immediately turned back to the pitch, clapping his hands sharply. "STAY FOCUSED!" he shouted in German, his voice cutting through the celebration. "IT’S NOT OVER!"

[FC Bayern Munich 1-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 74’]

[76’]

Flick made his move, bringing on Javi Martínez for Müller. The Spanish veteran jogged onto the pitch, slotting into the defensive midfield alongside Kimmich. Bayern shifted to an ultra-counterattacking 4-4-1, with every player behind the ball, trying to stem the tide.

"Flick is doing damage control," Derek noted. "He knows one more goal, and this match is over. He’s shutting up shop, hoping to claw one back on the counter."

"But that plays right into Leverkusen’s hands," Robson countered. "They thrive when teams sit deep. Rakim and Bailey on the wings, Alario up top—they have the pace and technique to break down a low block."

[79’]

Leverkusen continued to press. They probed for the third goal, one that would kill the match. Rakim collected the ball on the left touchline. Immediately, he took on Alaba. The Austrian full-back stood his ground, refusing to dive in. Rakim was relentless.

He performed a quick stepover, dropped his shoulder to fake right, and flicked the ball past Alaba with the outside of his boot. The defender recovered, sliding in to block a low cross, but Rakim had already pulled the ball back onto his left foot, cutting inside toward the centre. Martínez closed down immediately, but Rakim slipped a short pass to Demirbay waiting at the top of the box.

The German midfielder took one touch, shaped to shoot, drawing Boateng toward him, then laid it off to Bailey on the right. The Jamaican winger struck it first-time with his left foot, curling it toward the far post. Neuer dove to his left, getting a hand to it, deflecting it wide.

"BAILEY!" Derek exclaimed. "Neuer keeps Bayern in this match! But they’re hanging on by a thread!"

The corner was delivered by Rakim, swinging it in with pace toward the penalty spot. Tah rose highest, but Süle got his head to it first, clearing it desperately out of the box. Kimmich collected the loose ball and immediately launched a counter.

[82’]

The German midfielder drove forward and bypassed Amiri with a sharp turn. Crossing the halfway line, he played it wide to Gnabry on the right. Gnabry took one touch. Then he accelerated down the flank. Wendell tracked back, but Gnabry cut inside onto his left foot, firing in one smooth motion.

Bender slid in, getting a foot in front of the ball to block it. The ball deflected to Lewandowski at the top of the box. The Polish striker chested it down. He held off Tabsoba and struck it on the bounce with his right foot. The ball cannoned toward the left side of the goal, curving outward as it bounced in the six-yard box.

Hradecky flew across the line, but he couldn’t reach it no matter how far he stretched out. However, lady luck still favoured him as a second later, the loud clang of the ball hitting the post resounded.

"He’s hit the woodwork!" Derek roared. "Leverkusen survive by mere inches"

Wendell was quick to pick up the rebound, quickly clearing the danger before nearby red shirts could interfere. "A miss like that will be disheartening, especially in such a crucial match," Robson added as they watched the ball fly out for a throw just in front of the halfway line.

[85’]

The final five minutes became a war of attrition. Bayern threw everything forward—long balls, crosses, desperate long shots. Leverkusen’s reinforced defence held firm, dropping into a five-man chain.

Tah, Tapsoba, and Bender stood impenetrable in the centre, frustrating Lewandowski. The three towering defenders contested every aerial ball, while Bender stepped up to block any intricate approach. Hradecky commanded his area with authority, catching, punching, and parrying anything that came close.

In the 87th minute, Kimmich tried a long-range effort from thirty yards, booming a shot from the right. Hradecky watched it all the way; it was too central to trouble him, and he caught it cleanly despite the dip and swerve.

[90’]

The fourth official raised his board: **+4 minutes**.

The Allianz Arena fell eerily quiet as Bayern fans, resigned to defeat. Lewandowski kept pressing the opposing defence, but Leverkusen raised the tempo. Using their numerical advantage, they isolated ball handlers and broke the rhythm. Spreading the ball wide to Baily and Rakim, they used tricky play to break down defenders and draw fouls.

[90+2’]

Bayern won a 92nd-minute corner when Bender headed the cross behind. Neuer sprinted up to join the attack. Kimmich delivered the corner, placing it perfectly just inside the penalty spot.

Bodies rose in a chaotic scramble—surprisingly, Neuer got his head to it, but Tah was there, heading it clear. The ball fell to Rakim at the edge of the box. He didn’t control it; instead, he knocked it forward and exploded after it.

He drove forward, dribbling at speed down naturally veering towards the left flank as a wave of red closed in on him. Alaba chased him desperately, but Rakim, who had locked in on goal, was too quick. His long legs churned forward, studs digging into the grass as he crossed the halfway line, widening the gap with the chasing defender, entered the final third, then placed a weighted shot into the empty net from the edge of the box.

"RAKIM REX!" Derek laughed. "A HAT-TRICK! To seal it!"

[FC Bayern Munich 1-3 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 90+3’]

Rakim didn’t celebrate wildly this time, simply raising his hands in celebration as he jigged to the corner flag. He kissed the badge at his left chest and performed a bow, whipping his boots twice on the way down.

"They came here on a mission," Robson said as the Leverkusen contingent celebrated. "And they have sufficiently delivered, securing a four-point lead in the league. A well-deserved victory for Bosz and his pride of lions."

[90+4’]

Bayern kicked off, but the referee checked his watch and immediately blew his whistle.

*(FWEEET! FWEEET! FWEEEEEET!)*

[FT: FC Bayern Munich 1-3 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

"IT’S OVER!" Derek Rae bellowed. "Bayer Leverkusen have done it! They’ve beaten Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena! Rakim Rex with a hat-trick—one of the greatest individual performances in modern Bundesliga history!"

"Stunning," Robson said, his voice filled with admiration. "Absolutely stunning. Seventeen years old, and he’s just destroyed the reigning champions on their own turf. They have one hand on the Bundesliga trophy."

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TO BE CONTINUED...