"Bayer 04 Leverkusen beat FSV Mainz 05 1-0 on matchday 34 to end the season in fifth place as Borussia Mönchengladbach ran out 2-1 winners against Hertha BSC," summed up the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. "The hope for help from the team from the capital was in vain."
The reports have little to criticise about Leverkusen's performance. The Welt am Sonntag describes a "good game" played by the Werkself at the end of the season, beginning with a "dream start".
The early goal by Kevin Volland is described in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung as follows: "Bayer got off to a lightning start because the team from Rhinehessen were still half asleep and Volland converted with a powerful left-footed shot on the spur of the moment to round off a move from Wirtz and Amiri."
There is also praise for the overall display. "There wasn't long to wait for the next big chance but Mainz were able to make a last-ditch clearance for the whipped-in and low cross from Bailey," describes RP online and adds: "Bayer were straight into the match, applied pressure, were focused, remain comfortable on the ball and did not allow the visitors to play their game at all."
According to the WAZ that did not change in the second 45 minutes. "The Rhinelanders kept up the pressure after the half-time break," reports the journal and points to the quality of the Werkself substitutes: "The introduction of Havertz and Moussa Diaby provided another boost."
The Werkself were unable to qualify for the Champions League with this win but did set a Bundesliga record as the BILD explains: "With 63 points, Leverkusen are now the most successful fifth-placed team since the introduction of the three-point rule (1995/96). Up to now, that many points always guaranteed at least fourth-place! Last season Leverkusen only needed 58 points to be in the Champions League…"
"Leverkusen don't want to worry about fifth place for too long," declared the EXPRESS. "In a week’s time there is the cup final against Bayern and then the Europa League could offer a back door to the Champions League. The Werkself are looking forwards." Fitting – and perhaps also fitting for the coming Werkself weeks – is the headline of the article "Cup final & Euro League: Bayer now start Plan B".
It has been a long time since feeling what it’s like to come away empty-handed. The last – and so far only – defeat of the season, in Elversberg, was two months ago. Since then, Bayer 04 have followed that up with seven wins and a draw. Now it has happened again away to TSG Hoffenheim. As the match progressed, the Werkself grew in confidence and “could even have scored the opening goal”, as Robert Andrich said after the game. In the end, it was the side from Sinsheim who sealed a 3–0 victory after “hectic closing stages” (kicker). The Werkself review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-3 loss at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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After nine points from their first three away matches of the 2026/27 season, the Bayer 04 Women suffered their first away defeat on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 defeat away to FC Nürnberg, who were winless before today, represented a setback for coach Roberto Pätzold’s team in the race for the top spots in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Fany Pronietz scored both goals (62’, 85’) for the home side.
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