The Black and Red fans experienced a roller-coaster of emotions in the game in Leverkusen. The visitors took an early lead through a Lukas Hradecky own goal. The second half proved to be hectic. The Werkself applied more pressure and levelled with a goal from Moussa Diaby (48’) and went on to take the lead with a great move and brilliant goal scored by Florian Wirtz (59’). But Monaco hit back. Krépin Diatta netted the equaliser with a curler (74’) and a hectic finish followed. Hradecky made a great save to deny Ben Yedder and Adam Hlozek hit the inside of the post at the other end. Axel Disasi made it 3-2 for the visitors with a lone-range effort in the third minute of added time. “My team showed great mental and physical strength,” said coach Philippe Clement. “We had the upper hand in the final fifteen minutes and the game was like a Champions League match.”
AS Monaco continued their run in Ligue 1 at the weekend. The 2-1 win at Stade Brest was the ninth league game unbeaten on the bounce (7 wins, 2 draws). Clement made five changes to the team that played in Leverkusen. Ruben Aguilar and Guillermo Maripan made way for Malang Sarr and Chrislain Matsima in the back four. Eliot Matazo was preferred to Mohamed Camara in midfield. And Wissam Ben Yedder and Eliesse Ben Seghir were replaced by Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo up front. The 1-0 lead for Monaco was the joint work of Ben Yedder and the goalscorer Aleksandr Golovin (39’).
The Red and Whites were on top in the second 45 minutes without dominating. Substitute Myron Boadu made it 2-0 for the visitors (73’) – it was the tenth goal from the bench for AS Monaco this term and that is the best return in the French top-flight as well as proof how strong the squad is in attack. Brest netted a consolation minutes from the end of the game.
The victory kept Monaco, without the former Leverkusen player Kevin Volland in the squad, in third place in Ligue 1 behind Olympique Marseille and Paris St. Germain. They remain two points behind Marseille in second spot. “We’re on a good run but now we have to carry on and, above all, recover,” said Krépin Diatta after the game. “It’s a very important game on Thursday and the target for the club is obviously to go through to the next round.”
Philippe Clement will probably rotate his team again on Thursday. The coach is happy he can rely on players who do not normally play: “I trust all my players. The big strength of our team is the collective and we showed that in Leverkusen on Thursday. You could see the mood on the bench when we scored the goals.”
AS Monaco scored two goals at the BayArena from long-range. That does not surprise Clement. It was practised in training. Shots from distance are “an important weapon” where you need more technical ability rather than strength .
The Werkself can expect a tough task at the Stade Louis II on Thursday. Monaco are full of confidence. But they are not invincible in the principality. They have already lost three times in Ligue 1. They also lost 1-0 at home to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. And in the Coupe de France, the French domestic cup competition, they were knocked out by second division Rodez Aveyron Football 5-4 on penalties in January. “We’re in with a good chance,” said Simon Rolfes ahead of the second leg. “It was an attacking game last Thursday. It will be a close run thing against a good team but we can win,” said the sporting managing director.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
Show more
On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
Show more
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
Show more
