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 Germany U19 team were beaten 2-0 by record champions Spain in the final of the U19 European Championship in Wales. Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan at SV 07 Elversberg) were in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed France U17 international Kenan Doganay. The 1.90-metre-tall defensive midfielder, who has Turkish roots, joins Leverkusen from the U19s at French top-flight club Olympique Lyon. He will initially train with and play for the U19 team.
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The Sports Tribunal of the German Football Association (DFB) has fined Bayer 04 Leverkusen €185,000 for spectators setting off pyrotechnic devices during a total of five competitive matches. This relates to four Bundesliga matches and the DFB Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich. The highest individual fine relates to the away match at FC Köln at the end of April.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
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