Kompany warns about Leverkusen star Grimaldo: Avoid any silly fouls | OneFootball

Before the Bundesliga top match against Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has issued a stern warning to his team about a dangerous weapon of the opponent: the free kicks of Alejandro Grimaldo.

The Spanish left-back is currently one of the most dangerous set-piece specialists in Europe – and Kompany knows that even an unnecessary foul could be enough to turn the game around.

“The truth is, you just have to hope that no silly fouls are committed and no free kicks are given,” Kompany said at the press conference on Friday. “That maybe he doesn’t have an incredible free-kick day this time. And that the goalkeeper helps us in this situation. There’s not much more you can do.”

Grimaldo has already scored seven goals and provided four assists this season – four of his goals came directly from free kicks. Most recently, the 30-year-old scored another spectacular goal on Wednesday in the DFB-Pokal against Paderborn (4:2 after extra time). His precision and shooting technique make him a constant threat to any opponent – especially near the penalty area.

Kompany’s warning is therefore clear: FC Bayern must defend with discipline and not allow Grimaldo to get into promising shooting positions in the first place. “We know what he can do,” the coach continued. “If he hits the ball perfectly, there’s almost nothing you can do about it.”

Kompany on Leverkusen: “It remains an absolute top match”

In addition to set pieces, Kompany also highlights the current form of last season’s runner-up. After a mixed start to the season and the coaching change from Erik ten Hag to Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen has found its stride again. The Werkself have won five of their last six Bundesliga matches, impressing above all with their attacking strength.

Photo: IMAGO

“Leverkusen is back in top form in the Bundesliga and they remain dangerous in front of goal. Of course, they have lost a lot of talent, but they have also bought talent. You can’t underestimate that,” Kompany explained. “When you see how many chances they create and how many goals they score, it’s still a team that’s dangerous in front of goal. It remains an absolute top match in the Bundesliga,” said Kompany.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.