BVB holds back Leverkusen for draw

Jürgen Klopp's BVB played to a tough 1-1 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Westfalenstadion. Naturally the match opened in somber remembrance for the fan who fell to his death during the DFB Pokal, with players all wearing black armbands. With over 73,000 in support, die Schwarzgelben went forward missing Polish international Jakub Błaszczykowski, Mats Hummels, Tamás Hajnal, Sebastian Kehl and Dedê. Leverkusen started more on the attack with Patrick Helmes coming close at the sixth and fifteenth minute but each turned aside. After twenty minutes Alexander Frei looked to be brought down in the box by René Adler but the referee let the play move on. However BVB slowly gained more control and took the lead with Alexander Frei scoring six minutes past the half hour from close range after Patrick Owomoyela blocked the clearance effort. Leverkusen continued to attack and just past the hour Patrick Helmes equalized the match when he got on the end of Tranquillo Barnetta's cross. Patrick Owomoyela saved the lead when he cleared Barnetta's goal bound effort off the line a few minutes later. Leverkusen could have had the lead inside twenty minutes when Stefan Kießling provision to Tranquillo Barnetta was driven just centimeters over the bar. With ten minutes remaining Simon Rolfes missed from a few meters out to keep the match at its 1-1 final score.