Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Werkself lose 5-1 to Flamengo U20s

Head coach Erik ten Hag included five youth players in the starting XI in his first match in the dugout at Bayer 04: Mark Flekken was in goal with a back three in front of him consisting of Ben Hawighorst, Ferdinand Pohl and Arthur, Osman Turay, Jeremiah Mensah, Axel Tape and Nebe Domnic started in midfield. Amine Adli, Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface were up front.

Flamengo take early lead

Flamengo, in the middle of their league season, in the shadow of the Christ the Redeemer started the game better and took an early lead with a low shot from Lorran (3’). Shortly after that, Arthur unintentionally turned the ball into his own net to make it 2-0 to Flamengo (11'). The first danger at the other end came eight minutes later: Boniface won the ball and played it to Adli who headed into the net – but the Moroccan was in an offside position in the build-up. Boniface looked to have the next effort from a tight angle but the ball went into the side netting (25'). Goncalves then scored with a header to make it 3-0 (40').

Before half-time, Lorran cut in from the right and hit a long-range effort against the woodwork with the rebound converted by teammate Pedro Leao at 4-0 (45+4') – that was scoreline at half-time.

more solid in second half

The hosts carried on where they left off after the restart: Gusttavo when down the left flank and the Flamengo player ended up lobbing the ball over Niklas Lomb (55') a few minutes after he came on as a substitute – it was now 5-0 to the hosts. A few minutes later Bayer 04 made ten changes as planned before the game – that meant Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich, Alejandro Grimaldo and Edmond Tapsoba were on the pitch (61’). The Werkself looked livelier and substitute Montrell Culbreath scored to make it 5-1 (71'). The Leverkusen defence did not give anything else away – Exequiel Palacios impressed and was able to win possession on several occasions.

Patrik Schick had a good chance on 86 minutes but the Czechia international only hit the bar with his volley. The final score was 5-1 to Flamengo.

The brand-new away jerseys worn in the game and signed by the players are up for auction now:

TO THE MATCH-WORN SHIRTS

outlook: Next friendly in Bochum

The Werkself have further training sessions over the coming days in Rio de Janeiro as well as several community activities including with Bayer AG. Of course, one or two sightseeing tours may well be on the agenda. The next friendly for the ten Hag team is on Sunday, 27 July, away to VfL Bochum three days after landing in Germany. The kick-off at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion is at 13:00 CEST. Tickets are available HERE.

Match stats:

Flamengo U20: Cunha - Vina (Gusttavo 46'), Cleiton (Da Mata 46'), Iago (Vieira 84'), Sales (Wanderson 46') - Joshua (Shola 62'), Alves, Guilherme (Xavier 84') - Lorran (Mora 62'), Leao (Teresa 62'), Goncalves (Italo 84')

Bayer 04: Flekken (Lomb 36'/Hradecky 60') - Hawighorst (Tapsoba 60'), Pohl, Arthur (Andrich 60') - Turay (Grimaldo 60'), J. Mensah (Xhaka 60'), Tape (Palacios 60'), Domnic (Culbreath 60') - Adli (Schick 60'), Boniface (Sarco 36’/Buck 60'), Hofmann (Tella 60')

Goals: 1-0 Lorran (3’), 2-0 Arthur (11’ o.g.), 3-0 Goncalves (40’), Leao 4-0 (45+4’), 5-0 Gusttavo (55’), 5-1 Culbreath (71’)

Referee: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (Brazil)