Bayer 04 were in the Bundesliga title race well into spring and also progressed to the latter stages of the DFB Pokal. Ultimately, the team were unable to defend either title, but the Werkself did set a new Bundesliga record in their final game of the season, having bid an emotional farewell to Xabi Alonso and Jonathan Tah at the BayArena the previous week. It was the end of an era, as bayer04.de looks back on the 2024/25 season, with part two looking at January through to May.
Following a short winter break, the season resumed in January with six games in the space of 20 days. The opening three Bundesliga fixtures against Borussia Dortmund (3-2), Mainz (1-0) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-1) all ended in victory, before a 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig. That came just days after a 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid in the seventh game of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase. However, Leverkusen’s top-eight fate was in their own hands going into the final match at home to Sparta Prague, with a 2-0 win ensuring Alonso’s men finished in sixth place and avoided the knockout play-offs.
There was some exciting transfer news that month as well, with Alejo Sarco joining from Velez Sarsfield in Argentina, while Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) and Mario Hermoso (Roma) arrived on loan. However, there was some bad news as Martin Terrier and Jeanuel Belocian both suffered season-ending injuries.
The fixture list was no less intense going into February, which included a derby in the cup and three meetings with Bayern Munich across the Bundesliga and Champions League. The DFB Pokal quarter-final at home to Köln turned into a classic, as the Werkself came from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Patrik Schick’s brace, including a 96th-minute equaliser, took the game to extra-time, before Victor Boniface claimed the derby spoils and progress to the final four. The league meeting with Bayern didn’t see any goals but was no less exciting to watch. Leverkusen had 15 shots to the Munich side’s two but were unable to force a breakthrough that would cut the gap at the top of the Bundesliga. The two teams were then reunited again in Europe with an all-German tie in the Champions League round of 16. Bayern won 3-0 at the Allianz Arena and then 2-0 at the BayArena as the Werkself bowed out of continental competition.
Leverkusen also lost 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen in between those two legs with Bayern. It was a defeat that hurt enough in itself but was made worse by the fact that the Bavarians were also beaten that weekend by Bochum. Hope was renewed the following week when Bayern were held at Union Berlin and the Werkself produced another great late show to win 4-3 at VfB Stuttgart, reducing the gap from eight to six points. Two goals after the 89th minute from Boniface and ‘Mr Last Minute’ Schick were called a “magic moment” by Alonso.
The magic of the DFB Pokal was then on full display, but not to Bayer 04’s benefit this time as the holders were rightly beaten 2-1 at 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals. The defence of their Bundesliga title also slipped further away in the following weeks as draws once again hampered matters, being held by Union (0-0), St. Pauli (1-1) and Freiburg (2-2). It was extra frustrating given the fact that Bayern also dropped points in a few games during the run-in. It was ultimately the result in Freiburg that secured the title for the Munich club and left Bayer 04 stranded in second place with two games to play.
There would be no silverware at the end of this season for Leverkusen, but Alonso’s men still had a historic objective to achieve. And they did just that, with the 2-2 draw at Mainz on the final day meaning the Werkself had gone 34 Bundesliga games away from home – two full seasons – without defeat. No team had ever before managed such a run in the German top flight. A total of 69 points also made it the third-best season in the club’s history.
The emotional goodbyes had taken place the previous week with the last home game of the season against Dortmund as Alonso, Tah and loanees Nordi Mukiele, Buendia and Hermoso were given a send-off. When Alonso announced at his press conference ahead of the match that he’d be leaving at the end of the campaign, he said: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. I’m grateful for everything we’ve experienced together with the fans. These moments are among the best in my life. My time here will forever be an important part for me and my family.”
All those leaving the club were presented with gifts prior to kick-off against BVB, but the emotions really came out after the final whistle. A banner was unfurled for Tah that read: “Came as a talent, leaving a double winner. Thank you for over 10 years, Jona”. As the team stood in front of the north stand, Tah took the microphone to address the crowd. “It’s not easy to find the right words. What we achieved with the double, we achieved together. I’ll never forget you. You’ll always be in my heart. Thank you for everything!” the defended announced. And after calls of “Xabi!”, Alonso also made his way into the throngs of fans as the pair got the crowd going even more with an Uffta. It was an emotional tearful scene. Few people even remembered that the game had ended in a 4-2 defeat.
As the curtain came down on 2024/25, it meant the end of an era at Bayer 04 – the most successful in the club’s history. But as one door closes, another opens. CEO Fernando Carro and managing director Simon Rolfes are also looking to the future with confidence, the latter stating, “We’ll have a top coach next season and put together a top team.”
Everyone at Bayer 04 is excited to see what comes in 2025/26.