
The Werkself did not lose any time in their first home game of the 2021/22 season: It was 2-0 to the passionate hosts after an own goal from Yann Sommer and a strike from Patrik Schick. When it looked like it could become more interesting just before half-time, Lukas Hradecky saved a penalty from Lars Stindl. Moussa Diaby and Nadiem Amiri added the two other Leverkusen goals in the second half. HERE is the detailed match report.
Whether it's Mitchel Bakker ("We enjoyed it and so did our supporters") or Lukas Hradecky ("The performance was right, the whole of Leverkusen was behind us, it was simply brilliant") – all the Bayer 04 players expressed their joy at the outstanding victory but also made it clear how happy they are about the return of the fans. The support from the stands also played an important part in the assessment from coach Gerardo Seoane. "Our impressive start was also down to the crowd," said the Swiss boss before adding full praise for his team in addition to the compliment to the spectators: "We were very sharp, compact and showed solidarity with each other – I felt a great energy from the start. There was a great team spirit today."

There were lots of reasons for this victory: At the end of an impressive display as a group, the team was the star of the night – and the fans were also really big winners. There were some notable moments: Lukas Hradecky saved a penalty for the sixth time at Bayer 04, Moussa Diaby was the fastest player on the pitch with a top speed of 35.1 kmph and new signing Robert Andrich made his debut for the Werkself in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Bayer 04 produced a clinical and efficient display. While the 4-0 scoreline makes a clear statement there are also some stats from both teams at a similar level. The Werkself and Borussia were more or less equal in terms of shots on goal as well as possession and pass completion. The Black and Reds were clearly on top in challenges and tackles made (56 to 44 per cent).

The media also heaped praise on the Werkself. The assessment in the online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger under the heading 'That was good': "Sometimes it's difficult to say much under this heading. In this case you could almost break the mould. (…) The Werkself have rarely looked so compact as in the outstanding first quarter of an hour. The team operated as a pack chasing every ball, blocking off every passing option and using each and every opportunity to attack." The conclusion: Bayer 04 have kicked off the season at home with fireworks and a talent show which almost left you speechless. It wasn't a win, it was a statement."
Bild online awarded top marks to five Bayer 04 players after the spectacular four-goal display. Those top marks were for Lukas Hradecky ("The penalty killer again") Mitchel Bakker ("Bayer finally have a left-back of high calibre") Exequiel Palacios ("His best match, impressive how he reads and resolves situations in the game"), Moussa Diaby ("An assist for Schick, scored the third goal himself. Unstoppable") and coach Gerardo Seoane ("He communicated one thing above all to his group – playing as a team!").
The Rheinische Post highlighted three players in their individual assessment: Lukas Hradecky ("outstanding in every tricky situation"), Exequiel Palacios ("a terrific performance") and Moussa Diaby ("His dribbles. Impressive. His pace? Irresistible. His quick thinking? Incredible.").

After four points from the first two games against Union Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Werkself are in action on Bundesliga matchday three away to FC Augsburg (Saturday, 28 August, 15.30 CEST). Augsburg picked up their first point on Saturday with a goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt after losing 4-0 in their opening match against TSG Hoffenheim. A positive omen for Bayer 04: In the previous ten Bundesliga matches at Augsburg there have been six wins and four draws and the two DFB Cup ties both ended in victory for the Werkself.

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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After matchday 31 and the 2-1 derby win in Cologne, one thing is certain: Bayer 04 will at least compete in the UEFA Europa League in the coming 2026/27 campaign. But the Werkself want more. Looking at the race for Champions League qualification and the remaining three league fixtures, including against direct rivals, bayer04.de outlines the possible scenarios in the season run-in.
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This special event showed once again how strong Bayer 04 are as a team: As part of ‘BarmeniaGothaer gives joy’, the Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane supported the sale of individually designed T-shirts for a good cause at the Fanwelt on Thursday. Several hundred fans came to take part in the charity campaign. Leverkusen's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer donated the proceeds to the Fondation Edmond Tapsoba, which helps people in Tapsoba's home country of Burkina Faso in their challenging everyday lives.
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