Ever-changing Leverkusen

By Mark Bennett

The Bayer 04 Leverkusen team that reached the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League final was regarded as one of the most exciting, mobile teams ever to have graced the competition, but the current crop of players have shown that they can play slick, risky football as well.

Thoughtful tactics
Leverkusen's flexible approach to the Matchday 3 fixture against AS Roma was the key to their 3-1 win. Coach Klaus Augenthaler had rarely deviated from a conventional 4-4-2 formation beforehand, but as Roma came to the BayArena he made important changes that paid off, notably switching to a 3-4-3 lineup.

New formation
"We expected Roma to take a defensive approach and I want to be able to put them under pressure," said the coach before the match. "Roma normally only play with one out-and-out striker. I am sure that three defenders can cope with one forward."

Opening salvo
In the event, Leverkusen only stuck to the formation in the opening minutes when Roque Junior, Juan and Jens Nowotny sat tight in defence to avoid conceding an early goal. The midfield players held their positions while the wingers dropped back when required to provide cover in defence.

Flexible approach
However, the flexibility of their new system became more apparent later. As Jens Nowotny moved up into midfield to give the team a further option, the system changed to a 2-5-3. When Roma were in possession, both Diego Placente and Bernd Schneider dropped back from midfield, with Jacek Krzynówek and Jermaine Jones slippping back into midfield, changing the system to a 5-4-1.

Calm and composed
Despite falling behind to a strike from Francesco Totti on 26 minutes Leverkusen remained calm and continued to stick to Augenthaler's flexible approach. That paid off after the break when Roque Junior, Krzynówek and França turned the match around for the Ruhr side.

Squad rotation
The system was not the only thing Augenthaler changed; he also decided to give those players searching for their best form a rest. Jones came in on the right wing for Paul Freier and França was also omitted from the starting lineup.

Jones delighted
Obviously, Jones was especially happy with the changes. "I like the new system because it gave me a chance to start a game," the former German Under-21 international told uefa.com. "We won the match and there is no real reason why we should change the tactics."

Midfield shift
Schneider was also impressed with the team's flexibility. "I officially played in midfield in the first half and then officially dropped back into defence after Carsten Ramelow was taken off," he said. "But I don't think you can say we played 3-4-3, 4-4-2 or any other system. We changed our approach according to the situation."

'Right attitude'
However, while they were tactically excellent against Roma, Nowotny saw something else to give him hope for Wednesday's return in Rome. "We showed exactly the right attitude out there and that is what won the game for us," he told uefa.com. "When we play at our best it doesn't really matter what system the coach chooses."

Empty stadium
With that kind of winning spirit, the prospect of facing Roma in an empty Stadio Olimpico will doubtless be even less intimidating.