Leon, do you know the meaning of the German word ‘Angstgegner’ (nemesis)?
Yes, I know it (he grins).
You could say: You are the ‘Angstgegner’ of Bayern Munich. You’ve scored four goals in five games against the best defence in the Bundesliga – alongside RB Leipzig. How do you explain your record? You haven’t scored more goals against any other Bundesliga club…
I think FC Bayern are one of the best teams in the world. Every time I play against them, it feels like a Champions League final. I automatically give 110 per cent. I’m a young player and if I want to make it to the next step, I need to perform against these teams because these are top notch teams. That’s why games like this are so important.
You were the matchwinner in the clash in Munich last November with your two goals. The 2-1 victory was the first win for the Werkself in Munich since 2012. What can you remember of that day?
That day was a very special day for me and I’ll definitely never be able to forget that. The three points were important for the team and for the club as well – above all as we were very lucky too. But anyway. It was a great moment for us and for the fans.
You scored the first goal with your right and the second with your left foot.
It was just an instinct when I got the ball with both foot I just shoot because I know: If you don’t shoot, you’ll never score (he laughs). After the first goal, I celebrated like I’ve done so often. And when I scored the 2-1, I felt that we were going to win. Then I did the W for Win with my fingers. The best goal against Bayern Munich was definitely the free kick in the home game that we won 3-1 in the end (2 February 2019, ed.).
Do you prefer games against top teams like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig? You’ve scored against all three this season…
I live for games like that. I want to leave a legacy for my people of Jamaica and to show them that there’s hope and the possibility for people if you work hard to achieve something. And these are the games I need to do it in to showcase my talent and showcase that I want to reach to the top.
The coronavirus pandemic is also affecting life in your homeland at the moment. How are your relatives getting on in Jamaica?
Fortunately they are all healthy. I’m in daily contact with with my family. There’s lockdown in many places in Jamaica. They’re not allowed to leave their houses or neighbourhoods. Jamaica is a small country that unfortunately doesn’t have the necessary resources to fight the virus. That’s why I try to help out with food or money as much I can from so far away.
Let’s finish with a look to the future: Nobody knows if and when the Bundesliga season will be completed. How do you manage to maintain motivation in light of that?
I think positively, I’m basically a positive person. Of course, I miss being on the pitch with the team and being cheered on by the fans. But when it gets going again, we’ll be ready as a team.
Bayer 04 are away to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off on Thursday 26 November at 18:45 CET at the Maksimir Stadium. All the information on ticket sales.
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It wasn’t just on the pitch that there was cause for celebration around the Werkself’s 2–1 home win against SC Freiburg. Plenty of happy faces could be seen near the dugouts at half-time too. Once again, CEO Fernando Carro, alongside former striker and club ambassador Stefan Kießling, paid tribute to eight supporters’ clubs celebrating up to their 30th anniversary on behalf of Bayer 04.
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He’s done it: Patrik Schick also found the back of the net in Bayer 04’s 2–1 win over SC Freiburg on Matchday six of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season – a club record! In what was a high-quality match from the word go, the Werkself were briefly rattled by the visitors’ opener from Derry Scherhant in the 14th minute but fought back with an equaliser from Ibrahim Maza just six minutes later. In the second half, the Black and Reds took control on their home turf and secured a well-earned win through record-holder Schick. In doing do, the Werkself inflicted the first defeat of the season on the club from the Black Forest.
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It was a match that will live long in the memory of everyone involved: The Bayer 04 U19s celebrated their seventh win in seven matches in the DFB Youth League preliminary round – and yet it was a very special victory indeed: in the 4–3 (1–1) win at VfL Bochum 1848, no fewer than five goals came in the final quarter of an hour. As the 90th minute approached, coach Patrick Greveraars’s side found themselves behind, but then fought back in true ‘Laterkusen’ style.
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Under Carles Martínez, the Werkself have so far proved unbeatable at the BayArena. The Spaniard has led his team to victory in all three of their most recent home matches – and, it's worth noting, without conceding a single goal. On Sunday, 18 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST / live on DAZN and Werkself Radio), current league leaders SC Freiburg will make the trip to Leverkusen, but will be without their top scorer. What's more, the Werkself have won all three of their previous home matches against the Black Forest club. With a goal, Patrik Schick could not only secure a fourth consecutive victory but also set a memorable record. Meanwhile, on what will be the ‘Health Day' at the BayArena, much of the focus will be on physical wellbeing. Today's matchday news.
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