"We were too nice against a men's team in the first half. I'm glad we didn't let our heads drop after going 2-0 down," was the assessment of Peter Bosz who was satisfied overall with the performance of his players. "That was a real friendly. For the first time in the pre-season we played against a team that pressed high. It was hard work," added the 56-year-old.
As was the case a week ago, in the double matchday at Kurtekotten with games against Sittard (0-1) and Eupen (3-4), the Werkself head coach split his squad up into two teams for the matches against Watford (1-2) and SD Eibar from Spain. The simple explanation: All his players were to get as much playing time as possible.
The 'B team’ was led onto the pitch by captain Karim Bellarabi and, playing against the team that finished twelfth in La Liga last term, they competed on equal terms with the opposition in spite of the Black and Reds having four U19 players in the starting eleven in Ayman Azhil, Jan Boller, Adrian Stanilewicz and Cem Türkmen. That did not make any difference for the first half an hour before Ekhi Bravo open the scoring for the visitors (33'). The Spaniards were lucky that the referee Wolfram Aufschnaiter failed to award a foul against the visitors after an incident in Ramazan Özcan's six-yard box.
The match became more disjointed in the second half as the flow of the game was interrupted by a lot niggling fouls as in the first half. After Lucas Alario hit the bar from a free kick (47'), the Spaniards made it 2-0 on 66 minutes – Asier Benito converted a cross from the right from close range. Peter Bosz's team refused to give up and Alario pulled a goal back after good work from Azhil. With five minutes to go, the Argentinian was fouled in the box – the 26-year-old picked himself up to convert the penalty with a shot into the bottom left corner to give the Black and Reds a draw at the end of the training camp.
The evening was less enjoyable for Joel Pohjanpalo. The 24-year-old Finn, who was out of action for a year with a persistent ankle injury, was hit on the site of the injury in a challenge after 20 minutes and he had to be substituted. Bosz was able to give the all clear after the game. "I don't expect him to be out for long," said the Dutchman before adding: "At the start of the week he felt a slight problem with his foot and we knew from the start that he would not play the full 90 minutes."
The Werkself return to Leverkusen tomorrow (Sunday). The pre-season will carry on there with the next friendlies on another double matchday on Sunday 28 July against Heracles Almelo and Vitesse Arnhem at the Kurtekotten Academy.
Bayer 04: Özcan – Boller (Lamti 83'), Retsos, Jedvaj, Sinkgraven – Stanilewicz, Türkmen – Bellarabi (Wolf 80'), Azhil, Pohjanpalo (Onur 22') – Alario
A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
Show more
In keeping with the current freezing temperatures, Bayer 04 has heavily discounted numerous winter items – from cozy hats and sporty matchday clothing to stylish fleece and winter jackets.
Show more
The fourth showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 starts for the Leverkusen eSports team today, Thursday 22 January (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel and on the Bayer 04 app from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Reds will once again compete with six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round in Berlin on 2 February at the fourth showdown. The lowdown on our next three opponents in the online preliminary round.
Show more
A month on from the last match of the old year, the Werkself also play the first game of the new year in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Roberto Pätzold's side open Matchday 15 with the meeting at promoted side 1. FC Union Berlin on Friday (18:30 CET).
Show more
