Jamaican ace helps make Bundesliga top tier history

Kingston-born Leon Bailey was making his first start for Bayer Leverkusen since their domestic season resumed following the coronavirus pandemic

VITAL ASSIST: Leon Bailey



LEON BAILEY’S goal assist for rising star Kai Havertz, in their 1-0 success over highflying hosts Freiburg on May 29, helped rewrite the German Bundesliga history books.

The Jamaican midfielder, making his first start for Bayer Leverkusen since their domestic season resumed following the coronavirus pandemic, played a neat one-two with German Havertz who raced into the area to prod the ball past keeper Alexander Schwolow to make history.

Havertz became the inaugural player to rack up 35 Bundesliga goals before his 21st birthday, although the club will now be concerned about their prized midfielder as he was forced off injured five minutes after making the breakthrough.

Opportunity

Yet an injury should mean that Bailey will begin matches rather than starting from the bench like recently. Kingston-born Bailey, making his 85th Bundesliga appearance, fluffed the opening opportunity to score in the fascinating encounter on the verge of half-time. But after the break the 22-year-old relished the chance to made amends by cleverly finding team-mate Havertz.

And Bailey was full of praise for Havertz, highly sought after by a string of elite European clubs with runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool heavily linked with the 20-year-old, and enthused: “I’m very happy for him, of course. He’s very, very talented, I think we all know that.

“For him to be able to be doing that, I think that gives a lot of young players a vision to see that anything is possible once you work hard.”

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