Matchday 9 in the VBL Club Championship against FC Köln started at 15.30 CET with a 2 vs 2 encounter between Marc ‘MARC_LDW23’ Landwehr and Furkan ‘FURKY’ Kayacik against Denis ‘DENIS’ Müller and Tim ‘THESTRXNGER’ Katnawatos. The derby was appropriately exciting from the start: Leverkusen levelled after going 2-0 down before the Black and Reds e-Sports duo turned the game round late on with a winner at 3-2 (88’).
As the 1 vs 1 game between Landwehr and Köln’s Müller ended all square at 1-1 the final result came in the third game. Mario ‘BULJI’ Lovrinovic lost 2-1 against Katnawatos. That meant the derby ended in a draw with one point for each team.
The following fixture on matchday 10 against top-of-the-table Hansa Rostock lacked a similar intensity and excitement. The match began at 17.30 CET with the opening two vs two again involving Landwehr and Kayacik this time against Levy Finn ‘LEVYFINN’ Rieck and Henning ‘FCH_HENNING’ Wilmbusse. The Leverkusen eSports players ran out 3-1 winners clocking up the fourth 2 vs 2 victory in the current season.
Landwehr and Rostock’s Rieck then drew 1-1 in the 1 vs 1 clash. Once again, the final result came to down to the third match with Furky securing an impressive 4-0 win against Rostock’s Wilmbusse. Leverkusen thereby picked up three points against the league leaders from the Baltic coast. It was the first defeat for Hansa Rostock in the VBL CC 2022/23 campaign.
The #B04eSports team can now go into the next double matchday in confident mood. The fixture is on Tuesday 6 December. Leverkusen first play FC St. Pauli on matchday 11 at 18.30 CET and that is followed at 19.30 CET with matchday 12 against Hannover 96.
The results on matchdays 9 and 10:
FC Köln vs Bayer 04 (1 point)
Two vs two: 2-3
Müller against Landwehr: 1-1
Katnawatos against Lovrinovic: 2-1
Bayer 04 vs FC Hansa Rostock (3 points)
Two vs two: 3-1
Landwehr against Rieck: 1-1
Furky against Wilmbusse: 4-0
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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