Roger Schmidt wanted to use the final friendly before Sunday’s Bundesliga home game against Hertha Berlin (15.30 CET) to check on form and provide match practice for recently injured players in particular. Karim Bellarabi started against Bochum. Kevin Volland’s planned comeback was put back due to slight back problem. “It’s important and good to get time on the pitch particularly given the wintry conditions expected for Sunday against VfL.
A cross from Wendell on three minutes, that landed on the bar, represented the first shot on goal for the Werkself. The lead came five minutes later: Bellarabi passed to Hakan Calhanoglu on the right corner of the opposition box and the low drive from the Turkey international beat the Bochum keeper Felix Dornebusch. At the other end, a shot from 17-year-old Ulrich Bapoh flew just wide of Niklas Lomb’s goal (14’).
Very dominant and good combination play
With the exception of that shot from the visitors it was Bayer 04 who clearly controlled the first half with effective pressing and the second goal almost came when a shot from Chicharito went just wide of the upright on 18 minutes and ten minutes later Julian Brandt narrowly missed the far corner. Leverkusen moved the ball very quickly and effectively and the attractive and high tempo approach presented Bochum with a range of problems. Brandt, Bellarabi, Calhanoglu and Chicharito were clearly enjoying the Werkself’s dominance.
Roger Schmidt reshuffled his team at the break with Lomb the only player to come back out for the second half and Bochum made six changes. Admir Mehmedi had the first chance after the restart but Manuel Riemann in the Bochum goal was able to tip his low shot round the post (51’). On the hour mark, Joel Pohjanpalo squared the ball but the Swiss striker was unable to connect. Lomb was finally called into action shortly after that: First, he pulled off a brilliant save to frustrate Johannes Wurtz (61’) and then luck was on his side with a shot from Peniel Mlapa (70’).
Danger keeps cool
Danny da Costa hobbled off after a challenge with Nils Quaschner and he was replaced by Sam Schreck. Then it was Danger time at the Haberland Stadium: Pohjanpalo raced halfway down the pitch and coolly slotted the ball past Riemann to make it 2-0 for the Werkself (80’). Lomb was centre stage again when he kept out a Saglam free kick on 87 minutes. The capable keeper was then helpless to prevent the visitors scoring a consolation goal on 88 minutes.
Bayer 04 in the first half:
Lomb – Henrichs, Toprak, Dragovic, Wendell – Kampl, Aránguiz – Bellarabi, Brandt – Calhanoglu, Chicharito
Bayer 04 in the second half:
Lomb – da Costa (Schreck 78’), Tah, Jedvaj, Boeder – Baumgartlinger, Yurchenko – Havertz, Mehmedi – Kießling, Pohjanpalo
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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