The Bild am Sonntag reports: "Leverkusen have to worry about their Champions League place again after the heavy defeat – and they also lost Jonathan Tah (22) due to a hip problem. Goalkeeper Ramazan Özcan (33) came in for Bernd Leno (knee): 'The result and the way we played – that hurts. That wasn't Bayer Leverkusen today.' Sporting director Rudi Völler (58): 'We were too soft and too naïve. A willing sparring partner for Dortmund.'"
The Cologne-based Express opted for the headline "Bitter evening in Dortmund: Bayer lose out to strong BVB." The article reads: "The hosts took control early on and had two great chances through Götze (9'), still playing for a place in the World Cup squad, and Sancho (12'). However, a shot from the World Cup winner went just wide and Özcan produced a reflex save to deny Sancho's first effort. The 18-year-old went one better a minute later as he scored his first Bundesliga goal after fine work by Christian Pulisic producing a deserved lead against an unsettled Heiko Herrlich team after the 6-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the cup semi-final.
The online edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger described the effects of the defeat on the league table: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen lost 4-0 to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga top game on Saturday afternoon. Following the defeat, the Werkself now have to worry about qualification for the Champions League again. BVB are now three points ahead, Hoffenheim in fifth our two points behind." Sporting director Rudi Völler was quoted as saying: "You could see the level of performance BVB are normally capable of."
The analysis in the Kicker reads: "Thanks to a brilliant display from Jadon Sancho, BVB earned a highly deserved 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The 18-year-old Englishman was very busy on the left flank and posed the Werkself with many a (unsolvable) problem. In addition to Sancho, Reus also came up trumps although the Germany international needed a few attempts to get going."
The online edition of the Rheinische Post came to the following conclusion: "The Leverkusen mission for the top game on matchday 31 was clearly defined: On the same points and only in fourth place due to a minimally worse goal difference, the close rivals Borussia Dortmund were to be kept at the same distance to open up wide the path to the Champions League. That failed miserably: Bayer lost 4-0 to a direct competitor for a place in Europe's premier club competition and now have to look out for TSG Hoffenheim who have moved two points closer. Jadon Sancho, Maximilian Philipp and Marco Reus scored for BVB who were on fire in the second half... The only consolation for the Werkself fans is: The remaining fixtures against Stuttgart, Bremen and Hanover are apparently easier. However, it could be very difficult against these teams on current form."
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
Show more
A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
Show more
Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
Show more
