Stefan Kiessling Should've Started Too
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Stefan Kiessling has not been in good form all season long, and it has seriously affected Bayer Leverkusen's results.
Since scoring 21 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches in 2009-10, Kiessling has been unable to rediscover his scoring touch. This season he has been limited to five goals in 28 matches.
But with Eren Derdiyok injured and Dutt electing to play with a lone striker, that lone striker should've undoubtedly been Kiessling, not Andre Schurrle.
Schurrle is a fantastic talent, but he's much too small (6'0, 74 kg) to play as a lone striker, especially against the reigning European champions. Stefan Kiessling (6'4, 80 kg) at least would've stood a chance.
Unsurprisingly, Schurrle was nearly absent all game long for Leverkusen, while Kiessling was a consistent threat for Leverkusen in his time on the pitch. He nearly scored the equalizer with a header off a free kick from Gonzalo Castro shortly after coming on as a substitute.
Had he been on for the entire match, chances are Bayer Leverkusen could've taken more from this game.