Seoane made two changes from the team that drew 2-2 away at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The injured Exequiel Palacios was replaced by Andrich in midfield, while Odilon Kossounou started at right-back in place of Frimpong in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The coach had called for “resolute tackling, quick passing and good switching of sides” in both penalty areas during his press conference yesterday. It was a plan the Werkself carried out well, especially in the first half.
Jonathan Tah & Co. looked courageous from the first minute in defence, pressed early and enjoyed plenty of possession. It took just seven minutes for Leverkusen to carve out the first chances. Piero Hincapie got past Nahuel Molina and crossed to Adam Hlozek before Andrich had a go from range.
The 25,528 spectators inside the BayArena witnesses an even game at the start. It took Atletico over 20 minutes to find a way through the Werkself backline, and they thought they had a penalty when claiming Edmond Tapsoba handled while trying to clear a cross. Referee Michael Oliver originally pointed to the spot before VAR intervened to decide there was no wrong doing.
Kerem Demirbay and Hlozek had further opportunities but were unable to make a breakthrough. Diego Simeone’s side posed a threat again after the half-hour mark when Joao Felix got past Andrich but not Hlozek on the edge of the box as it remained goalless at the break.
Leverkusen tried to continue where they left off going into the second half. It took Seoane’s men just three minutes to create a double chance when Diaby found Patrik Schick in the centre, but he struck the crossbar with only goalkeeper Ivo Grbic to beat. The ball bounced back into play and landed at Hlozek, but his header then struck the left post.
Bayer 04 were now spending more time in the opposition half and pushing for a winner. Their best chance of the game so far again fell to Schick on 70 minutes when he chased down an attempted clearance, beat Axel Witsel and Mario Hermoso before rounding Grbic, but Felipe slid in at the decisive moment to block.
It was all Leverkusen in the closing stages. With six minutes to go, substitute Frimpong set off on a determined run. Despite being held, he kept going and teed up Andrich in the centre, who picked out the bottom left corner for a deserved lead.
Although they were now ahead, the Werkself didn’t sit back to try and see the result home. Callum Hudson-Odoi won the ball back and Frimpong was again away down the right towards the Atletico goal. He picked up out Diaby keeping up through the middle, who only had to turn the ball home to round off a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win.
The Werkself are again in action at the BayArena on Saturday, 17 September when they host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga at 15:30 CEST. The next European action isn’t until after the international break when Seoane takes his side to Porto on Tuesday, 4 October.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Hincapie, Tapsoba (Bakker 89'), Tah, Kossounou – Demirbay (Amiri 90'), Andrich – Hudson-Odoi, Hlozek (Frimpong 69'), Diaby (Azmoun 89') – Schick (Aranguiz 89')
Atletico Madrid: Grbic – Molina (Griezmann 96'), Felipe, Witsel, Hermoso, Reinildo – Llorente, Koke, Niguez (De Paul 45') – Morata (Cunha 73'), Joao Felix (Correa 73')
Goals: 1-0 Andrich (84'), 2-0 Diaby (87')
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
Yellow cards: Kossounou, Tah, Andrich
Attendance: 25,825
Following the international break, the Bayer 04 women’s team face their next head-to-head clash in the race for a top spot in the Bundesliga. In Saturday’s home match (14:00 CEST), the fourth-placed side host third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is well aware of the great opportunity this presents for his team.
Show more
Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…
Show more
Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.
Show more
Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
Show more
