"I'm happy. All the players were totally motivated and were determined to work hard in really hot weather. As we did on Thursday, we played against a team that sat back very deep and really closed down spaces. It was a good benchmark for what we'll face in the league and in Europe," said Heiko Herrlich in drawing a positive conclusion from the game even though his team could have won by a bigger margin given the chances created, particularly in the first half.
In the penultimate pre-season friendly, the Bayer 04 coach had to manage without Lukas Hradecky (rehab), Panos Retsos (thigh), Charles Aránguiz (knee), Leon Bailey (shoulder) and Karim Bellarabi (rehab) – Paulinho made his first start for Leverkusen against Al-Wahda.
The Werkself set the pace from the start at the Goldberg Stadium against an idyllic Alpine with some great passing football. Driven on by the skipper Lars Bender, the Herrlich team created four good chances in the first 20 minutes but were unable to find the back of the opposition net. Bayer 04 finally made the breakthrough just before the half-hour mark: Kai Havertz received the ball from the left and hit a low drive from 14 yards out that came back off the right-hand post but he was able to convert the rebound to make it 1-0 on 26 minutes. The Saudis failed to pose a threat up front in the first 45. Bayer 04 keeper Thorsten Kirschbaum only had to make one save before the break – and without any problems (30'). The Werkself took the narrow lead into the break with the two managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler, sporting director Jonas Boldt and former Leverkusen player Ramalho watching from the stand.
With the temperature just above 30 degrees, Herrlich sent on nine substitutes for the start of the second-half – including Kevin Volland plus three U19 players Jan Boller, Kevin Bukusu and Ayman Azhil. "The lads have done well at the training camp and have earned their chance," declared Herrlich. The significantly less experienced Werkself side were quick to challenge as they attempted to stop the, in part, very aggressive Saudi team from breaking out. They received vocal instruction from their coach on the touchline. With some success – even if clear-cut chances were a rarity up to the final whistle. A strike from Volland was ruled offside on the hour mark. "We absolutely dominated the first phase of the game. But sometimes you have to work hard in football. Kevin Volland and Dominik Kohr did that in the second half after we almost completely changed the line-up in an exemplary performance from the two of them," said Herrlich, whose players clocked up a fifth win in the sixth and penultimate pre-season friendly with a battling display.
After the final whistle, the Werkself set off for Germany straight away. The players have Monday and Tuesday off before the pre-season work is resumed on Wednesday.
Bayer 04: Kirschbaum – Weiser (Bednarczyk 46'), Tah (Dragovic 46'), S. Bender (Boller 46'), Henrichs (Wendell 46') – L. Bender (Stanilewicz 60'), Baumgartlinger (Kohr 46') – Brandt (Volland 46'), Havertz (Azhil 46'), Paulinho (Schreck 46') – Alario (Bukusu 46')
A training course for external coaches covering age groups U8 to U13 on 'Effective coaching in junior football' was held at the BayArena this week. The course, with this initial event ahead of a series of training units, was aimed at coaches and sporting management of clubs in the area of Leverkusen. It was very well received.
Show moreTo gain access to the stadium as a member of the media on Werkself home matchdays you need accreditation from Bayer 04. From now, you can submit the application for accreditation exclusively via our online registration form at bayer04.de.
Show moreIn keeping with the Trophy Tour in Brazil starting today, Bayer04.de looks back at the long-standing link between the Werkself and Brazilian players. The list is long as well as impressive. 24 Brazilian players have worn the Bayer 04 Leverkusen jersey from 1987 to the present day. Tita was the first under the Bayer Cross having come to Germany after ten years at top Brazilian clubs Vasco da Gama, Flamengo Rio de Janeiro and Gremio Porto Alegre. He played a crucial part in the Werkself winning their first major trophy in that season: the UEFA Cup in 1988.
Show moreIn the third home fixture in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign, the Werkself entertain the Italian champions Inter Milan at the BayArena. The game on Matchday 6 is on Tuesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21.00 CET). Read on for the information on ticket sales for this game.
Show moreTrophies on Tour: The Bayer 04 delegation led by sporting managing director Simon Rolfes is set to take the Trophy Tour to Brazil. Ahead of the first events tomorrow, 12 November, Bayer04.de spoke to Simon Rolfes prior to the flight to São Paulo about the motivation for the tour, the planned events and the long-standing connection between Bayer 04 and Brazil.
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