20.12.2009

Compliments on a good first half

Apart from the Borussia handballers' Christmas party there was not a lot happening at the BORUSSIA PARK on Sunday, as the players are on their deserved Christmas break.

A day earlier, the words directed to Borussia coach Michael Frontzeck came from a competent authority: "I have to pay you a huge compliment for the way your team perform, how they have developed this season, how they play football and how homogeneous they look." They were uttered by Jupp Heynckes, coach of Christmas table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen, after his side's 3-2 win over Borussia on Saturday.

As in previous encounters with Bayern Munich and Schalke 04, Borussia matched a top side for long spells at the BayArena. A gutsy performance gave them hope of taking a point, and for a while it looked like they might even beat the previously undefeated works team. Frontzeck had asked his players to chip away at the brilliantly organised Leverkusen defence, a strategy they implemented with increasing success during the first half. As so often this season, Borussia refused to let the opening goal knock them out of their stride and continued to play with confidence, eventually claiming their reward when Roel Brouwers equalised. Borussia's threat from set pieces was underlined when Dante showed great determination from a Bobadilla corner, bundling the ball over the line to make it 2-1. Bayer hit back, however, and turned the game round within just 15 minutes.

"We've had a very good first half of the season", said director of sport Max Eberl. "For the new year I hope we'll do just as well in the second half of the season and finish in a good position in the table." Until then, however, Eberl will enjoy an equally well deserved Christmas holiday.