The match began with a minute’s silence due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two teams also wore black armbands and Bayer 04 amended their matchday events. That included no carnival music being played. With five changes to the starting line-up compared with the 3-2 defeat at FSV Mainz 05, the Werkself took charge of proceedings straight away. One or two chances went begging before Lucas Alario - up front in place of the injured Patrik Schick - broke the deadlock (30’). The visitors upped their game but the Black and Reds deservedly took a 1-0 lead into half-time. The second half brought a double chance for the Werkself: A Bielefeld player first blocked a volley from Jonathan Tah from ten yards out (56’); but the ball was in the back of the net 60 seconds later. Moussa Diaby moved upfield with the ball, played a one-two with Florian Wirtz and then converted to make it 2-0 (57’). And it was the France international who sealed the win at 3-0 with his second strike of the game late on (81’). HERE is the match report.
“Finally another clean sheet,” said goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky happy about the first win without reply in 98 days. The Werkself skipper added: “We wanted to put the defeat against Mainz behind us – and we did that. I’m very happy with our performance today.” Head coach Gerardo Seoane praised his team for their overall display: “Congratulations to my team for a good performance. We succeeded in achieving a good mix of possession and dangerous moves from the start. And we were very focused in defending against Bielefeld transition play.”
Moussa Diaby has been riding high for weeks: It was goal numbers six and seven in the last five games for the 22-year-old. No other Werkself player has scored as often as the France international since matchday 20. He has now netted twelve times in the current campaign. Head coach Gerardo Seoane on his winger: “Moussa is much more focused on his work at the moment, is not picking up yellow cards compared with the first half of the season and he is more disciplined in his defensive game.”
The numbers back up the result. The Werkself had 72 per cent possession plus 59 per cent of challenges won and a pass completion rate of over 90 per cent (Bielefeld: 77). The Black and Reds were also on top in shots on goal with 21 to 9. This year it is running like clockwork at home: The 1-1 draw with Union Berlin was followed by three wins for Jonathan Tah and Co. - with a total of twelve goals scored.
The Welt am Sonntag headline reads “Ready for Europa” and the report continues: “Bayer win convincingly, consolidate third spot and Champions League qualification is in their sights.” And the Rheinische Post reports a deserved win for Bayer: “Leverkusen primarily impressed against Bielefeld with individual class. At the end of the day, a deserved 3-0 home win and the first clean sheet for the Werkself since November.”
The Werkself are away to the league leaders on matchday 25. Bayern Munich entertain head coach Gerardo Seoane’s team on Saturday 5 March. The clash between first and third kicks off at 15.30 CET.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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