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Leverkusen (dpa) - Bayer Leverkusen have averted their third defeat in a row, but did not use the opportunity. 

Against Werder Bremen, the Werkself were 1-1 (0-0) after deficit on matchday 15, but failed to significantly reduce the deficit to Bayern Munich.

After Bayern lost 3-2 on Friday evening at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Leverkusen are now four points behind the series champions.

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In the last game in 2020 against Munich, Bayer was the undefeated table leader, the 2-1 defeat was followed by another in Frankfurt.

Leverkusen will play against Hessen on Tuesday to make it into the round of 16 of the DFB Cup.

Bayer fell behind on Saturday due to the first Werder goal of long-time Leverkusen player Ömer Toprak (52nd).

Patrik Schick equalized (70th).

Bremen showed a clear improvement in performance compared to the 2-0 draw against Union Berlin in the previous week, but have only won one of the last twelve league games.

The relegation place over which Werder held the class last year is five points away.

The Bremen, changed to four positions, began briskly and courageously.

The guests showed the grip that coach Florian Kohfeldt missed recently and caused an unusually high number of ball losses for Leverkusen.

But while Bayer got at least a few cautious approaches to goal, Werder only got their first shot on goal after half an hour.

Significantly, after a free kick when Josh Sargent slipped into the ball and narrowly twisted.

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Bayer was missing a very important element of play in the offensive game without exception talent Florian Wirtz.

After 22 competitive games this season and two English weeks ago, coach Peter Bosz gave the 17-year-old a breather and did not even call him into the squad.

After the break, Bayer first increased the pressure - and then fell behind.

After a free kick from the strong Ludwig Augustinsson, Toprak pushed the ball in unhindered from 2011 to 2017 in Leverkusen.

For the 31-year-old, it was the first league goal since January 22, 2017, when he scored for Leverkusen against Hertha BSC.

After an hour, Bosz brought Lucas Alario.

But not as usual for Schick, but for Moussa Diaby.

Bayer now acted unusually with two trained center strikers.

A co-production of the two then also led to the compensation, which only counted after video evidence because of the suspicion of handball by Alario.

Bayer then pushed the win with vehemence, but Werder held out.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210109-99-956987 / 2

Information about the game at bundesliga.de