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 Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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