Ten Werkself players are currently away on international duty – and coach Heiko Herrlich had to manage without Lars and Sven Bender plus stalwart Stefan Kießling, who is still recovering from a cold. Lucas Alario did play as the suspension for the Argentinian following his red card in the derby against FC Köln did not apply to this friendly. Goalkeeper Niklas Lomb shared the bench with four U19 players Max Schneider, Marius Samoura, Hajdar Shala and Chinedu Ekene. Two of the youngsters were in the starting eleven: Tim Stappmann in the back three and Herdi Bukusu in midfield. Bochum, under former Bayer 04 coach Robin Dutt, did not start with Sidney Sam and Robbie Kruse did not play as he is away with Australia on international duty.
The second division side, who endeavoured to compete, had the first chance at Kurtekotten with keeper Rambo Özcan forced into action after just four minutes. In contrast, Bayer 04 made full use of their first opportunity at the other end: Bukusu put Kevin Volland through and the Germany international, who became a father for the first time at the weekend and therefore missed the game in Cologne, tucked away a low shot with his right foot to give the Werkself the lead on 11 minutes. Shortly after that, Karim Bellarabi missed a good chance to double the lead. Bukusu was quick to make amends: The youngster made it 2-0 with a great volley after a Bochum player had blocked the first effort from Alario on 15 minutes. And the encounter continued to prove entertaining for the crowd: Johannes Wurtz benefited from confusion in the Bayer 04 defence and he left Özcan with no chance as his diagonal shot from the right found the far corner of the net to make it 2-1 and 21 minutes.
The game continued in the same fashion: A header from Simon Lorenz went just wide of the Leverkusen goal on 25 minutes, Leon Bailey fired a right-foot shot against the Bochum woodwork on the half-hour mark. Volland then set up Alario to restore the two-goal lead on 33 minutes. The Werkself kept up the pressure as they sought to exploit their advantage: Volland headed home a pinpoint cross from the right by Bailey and Bayer 04 with then 4-1 in the lead on 39 minutes – and that was the half-time score in a lively encounter.
After the break – now with Niklas Lomb in goal – Bayer 04 took a considerably more relaxed approach to proceedings. Heiko Herrlich brought on Hajdar Shala and Chinedu Ekene for Wendell and Bukusu on 63 minutes. Alario matched Volland as he netted his second goal: The central striker – picked out well by Bellarabi – curled the ball into the far corner to put Bayer 04 5-1 up on 70 minutes. Lomb was able to shine on 76 minutes as he kept out an effort from Hinterseer with a fine flying save. Marius Samoura replaced Volland two minutes later and Max Schneider came on for Bailey om 81 minutes. Kevin Stöger rounded off the scoring with a goal from a free kick for VfL with the match ending 5-2 in favour of Leverkusen.
Line-up in friendly:
Özcan (Lomb 46') – Stappmann, Frey, Wendell (Shala 63') – Yurchenko, Kohr – Bellarabi, Bukusu (Ekene 63'), Bailey (Schneider 81') – Volland (Samoura 79'), Alario
A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
Show moreAlejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreThe friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
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