Back
13.08.2023DFB-Pokal

Werkself review #T05B04: Off to a flying start

Full speed ahead into the next round: Bayer 04 made a successful start to the new campaign with an 8-0 victory away to FC Teutonia 05 Ottensen in the first round of the DFB Cup. The reaction to the match is suitably relaxed. The Werkself review of the game at the Millerntor Stadium…
20230812_NB_DFB_Pokal_B04_Vs_FC_Ottensen_95184.jpg

SUMMARY ON TRACK EARLY ON

Fifteen minutes to warm up, the opener, two goals just before half-time and an entertaining exhibition display with five more goals in the second half. The Werkself were in command against the league leaders in the Regional League North. Edmond Tapsoba (16’) set Bayer 04 on course as the first goalscorer in the 2023/24 season with a close-range header, Victor Boniface (42’) and Florian Wirtz (45+1’) made it 3-0 for a comfortable lead at the break. Amine Adli (59’), Jeremie Frimpong (67’), Adam Hlozek with a brace (75’/90’) plus Jonas Hofmann (81’) netted the other goals against a brave but increasingly helpless fourth tier side. The match report is HERE.

REACTION: "IMPRESSED BY RESPECT"

The opposition coach paid a big compliment to the Werkself. "I’m impressed by the way Bayer showed us respect as a Bundesliga team. It was a great pleasure to be able to compare ourselves to Leverkusen at this level," said Ottensen's coach Dominik Glawogger. Xabi Alonso summed up the game from his perspective as follows: "The first half wasn't easy for us but we did better after that and it was okay in the end." Florian Wirtz described progress in the cup competition: "It was great fun on the pitch, we have a team with a lot of intelligent players. But we won't overvalue the result. Now the full focus is on the match against Leipzig on Saturday."

crop_20230812_NB_DFB_Pokal_B04_Vs_FC_Ottensen_95202.jpg

PERSONNEL: ONE TROPHT AND LOTS OF APPLAUSE

And the winner is: Florian Wirtz was named Man of the Match in the first competitive fixture of the season. The Germany international set up the second goal scored by Victor Boniface together with Alejandro Grimaldo and the Werkself number ten netted the third goal just before half-time. The performance of substitute Robert Andrich was also worthy of winning an award: Rob appeared to have made it 8-0 on 89 minutes but in response to referee Bauer he admitted handling the ball. "I didn't register that the whole stadium was applauding me for that," said Andrich and added: "It was a clear handball but if the ref didn't ask me then I wouldn't have said anything." Such honesty goes down well with supporters.

STATS: TOP NUMBER FOR THE WERKSELF 

22 to 5 shots on goal in favour of Leverkusen illustrate the dominance of the Bundesliga team. Bayer 04 also had the upper hand against the league leaders from the Regional League North in terms of possession (66% to 34%), challenges (56% to 44%) and pass completion (90% compared to 78%). There is also another stat worth mentioning: The victory at the Millerntor Stadium saw Bayer 04 score away in the DFB Cup for match number 32 in succession– a record in Germany's cup competition.

.

20230812_NB_DFB_Pokal_B04_Vs_FC_Ottensen_95187.jpg

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: "VERY SERIOUS DISPLAY"

The Rheinische Post reports the goals scored and the response: "Teutonia's fans applaud Robert Andrich". And the Bild Zeitung goes into the subject in detail and reports: "The incident of the match was a (non) goal!" The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger said Bayer 04 produced "A very serious display that ended in an exhibition match in the end" and drew the following conclusion: "Leverkusen produced a focused and decisive performance man by man and there was a lot of power from the bench as well." The Express headline: "Bayer fired up for the league."

OUTLOOK: BIG MATCH AGAINST LEIPZIG

The opener in the DFB Cup is followed by the first test in the league: Bayer 04 start the Bundesliga campaign with a top match as the Werkself entertain RB Leipzig on Saturday 19 August with a 15.30 CEST kick-off at the BayArena. Last season's third in the table team and DFB Cup winners won the first title of the new season on Saturday night in the Supercup final with a 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Related News

Dustin Buck, Ken Izekor und Montrell Culbreath
Bayer 04 - 15.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – The youth players at the training camp

The Werkself training camp officially began early on Tuesday morning with the landing in Rio de Janeiro. Ahead of the first session in the afternoon local time, bayer04.de profiles the talented youngsters from the youth teams who have travelled to Brazil.

Show more
Frühbucherphase 2025/26
Bayer 04 - 15.07.2025

Update on early booker phase for 2025/26 Bundesliga home games

Preparations for the 2025/26 season are in full swing with the new head coach Erik ten Hag working for the start of the season in the middle of August. After the timings for the first matchdays in the forthcoming Bundesliga season were confirmed a few days ago, we now provide information on the first sale phase for match tickets. The early booker phase, exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members, brings some changes. Read on for further information.

Show more
SG Sonnenhof Großaspach gegen Bayer 04
DFB-Pokal - 15.07.2025

Tickets for the DFB Pokal tie at Sonnenhof Großaspach

Bayer 04 are away to SG Sonnenhof Großaspach in the first round of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal. The match is on Friday, 15 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST) at the WIRmachenDRUCK Arena. Read on for the latest ticket information.

Show more
BayArena
Bayer 04 - 14.07.2025

Parent Company Bayer partnering for Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Preseason Tour to Brazil

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will partner closely with parent-company Bayer during its preseason tour to Brazil from July 14 to 24 this month. The backing from Bayer of the “Bayer 04 Brasil Tour” has been crucial in organizing the groundbreaking training camp for ten days, plus a host of local activities and community events capped by the match against Flamengo's U20 team on July 18 at Estádio da Gávea.

Show more
ten Hag
Bayer 04 - 14.07.2025

Timetable for training camp in Rio de Janeiro

The bags are packed and Bayer 04 will set off for Brazil in a few hours. Over the next ten days, the team led by head coach Erik ten Hag will be the first Bundesliga side to hold a training camp in the country of the five-time World Cup winners. The Werkself will train at Flamengo’s Campus Ninho do Urubu under the motto ‘Esquenta!’ (warm up) and play a friendly against the U20 team of the world-famous club. Read on for training camp timetable.

Show more