What the papers say: 'Good football, poor result'

Under the headline 'Good football, poor result', the online Sunday edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger comes to the following conclusion: "In the opening game of the second half of the season, Bayer 04 failed more because of individual mistakes rather than the wrong approach. Many of the ideas of coach Bosz were evident, above all in the flexible midfield  with two advanced players (Havertz, Brandt) and the systematic occupation the wings with the ability to cover back at the same time. Bayer 04 played better football but equally were not quite on the ball."

The report in the Sonntags Express takes the same view: "Up to the 37th minute all was well with the Bayer fans. In the first competitive match under new coach Peter Bosz (55), the Werkself produced a heartwarming performance in the derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach – and that made the supporters in the stands forget the freezing temperatures. The only thing missing were the goals. … 'Gladbach are more efficient than us and that's why they won. But my players worked very hard and showed we can play this type of football,' said a defiant Bosz in spite of the defeat"“

The online edition of the Lower Rhine newspaper, the Rheinische Post, also views the game from a Mönchengladbach perspective: "Borussia have carried on where they left off in the first half of the season. Thanks to an impressive defensive performance and the required clinical finishing in front of the opposition goal, Gladbach clocked up a 1-0 victory at Leverkusen and it was reminiscent of several games in the first half of the season where the Foals picked up 33 points," and they also quoted Leverkusen's Kevin Volland: "We played a good and intense game over 90 minutes, were dominant, hardly lost the ball and had lots of chances – but something was missing. It's impossible to put it into words."

Bild am Sonntag quotes the coach Peter Bosz: "Of course, it's a blow in terms of European qualification but I said in the dressing room. Heads up, there are still 16 games to play and lots of points available. We are on the right track." The newspaper comes to the following conclusion: "Leverkusen played all-out attacking football in the second half but the ball almost always landed up with the goalkeeper Sommer or hit the post (Bellarabi, 68'). Talking about the attack, Bosz said: ,'We weren't well-organised in front of goal and there was often only one player there." And Rudi Völler said in Bild: "Whatever the tactics are, it's crucial to score as well. That's the critical point. The defeat is disappointing but not the way we played."

Welt am Sonntag recognises clear improvements in the Werkself game in spite of the defeat: "Borussia Mönchengladbach were possibly just the wrong opponent for a real renaissance at Bayer Leverkusen. The first competitive match under coach Peter Bosz ended in a 1-0 defeat for his new club against the Champions League contenders from the Lower Rhine. Above all, with the passionate all-out attack in the second half, the team were unlucky not to score an equaliser. But very early in the game, Leverkusen seem to have the flow in their game that was missing for large parts of the first half of the season."