Bayer 04 started their second pre-season friendly with new signing Jarell Quansah making his debut, while the meeting acted as Bochum's dress rehearsal before the start of the Bundesliga 2 season next week. Patrik Schick had the first two attempts of the game, with Nathan Tella then having the goal at his mercy as Leverkusen went on the attack early on. After another nice combination, Jonas Hofmann's shot was blocked at the last moment.
It took another five minutes for Erik ten Hag's side to be rewarded for their efforts, when Hofmann buried a pinpoint cross from Alejandro Grimaldo in the 23rd minute. The over 1,500 travelling fans from Leverkusen were witnessing a good display from their team, who weren't really troubled defensively until the 39th minute, when Mats Pannewig's effort from close range produced a superb reflex save from Bayer 04 keeper Mark Flekken. The hosts enjoyed their best spell at the end of the first half, but the next goal was scored by Schick with a clinical finish in the first minute of stoppage time.
The restart saw debutants Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane introduced as well as Lukas Hradecky and Axel Tape. The first opportunity in the second period fell to Bochum substitute Ibrahim Sissoko, but the summer signing could only strike the outside of the post. With around an hour played, the string of substitutes began - and the game became rather flat as a result. Genuine goalscoring opportunities were in short supply until the final whistle, as the Bayer 04 defence stood firm and inflicted a first defeat of pre-season on Bochum.
The Werkself continue with their next friendly on Friday night, 1 August at 19:00 CEST away to Dutch top-flight side Fortuna Sittard.
Match stats:
Bochum: Horn - Passlack (Rösch 46'), Morgalla (Lenz 73'), Strompf (Loosli 73'), Vogt (Kleine-Bekel 73'), Wittek (Koscierski 61') - Pannewig (Onyeka 61'), Ibrahima Sissoko (Miyoshi 80'), Bero (Wätjen 61') - Hofmann (Ibrahim Sissoko 46'), Broschinski (Clairicia 62')
Bayer 04: Flekken (Hradecky 46') - Quansah (Hawighorst 73'), Andrich (Traoré 88'), Tapsoba [Tape 46') - Arthur (Culbreath 61'), Xhaka (Boniface 77'), Palacios (J. Mensah 63'), Grimaldo (Adli 63') - Hofmann (Sarco 75'), Tella (Maza 46') - Schick (Kofane 46')
Goals: 0-1 Hofmann (24'), 0-2 Schick (45'+1)
Yellow cards: Vogt / Kofane
Referee: Felix Weller (Osnabrück)
Attendance: 15,788 at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion
Eintracht Frankfurt have made a perfect start to the season: The 5-0 victory in the first round of the DFB Pokal at Oberliga club FV Engers 07 was followed by two impressive wins in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen (4-1) and TSG Hoffenheim (3-1). This Friday, 12 September (kick-off: 20:30 CEST/live on Sky and WOW), the team from Frankfurt visit the BayArena. Not exactly their favourite venue. After all, the last time Eintracht scored in Leverkusen was over ten years ago. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreFor many young people, football is an important part of their lives, it inspires and offers a sense of identification. Players are role models and the clubs embody social commitment. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the state's Bundesliga football clubs, including Bayer 04, are using this appeal to inform young people about career guidance programmes and to create offers that give them guidance and also support them in making a smooth transition from school education to practical training. After a successful first year, the commitment is now continuing - among other things with joint online and offline communication under the umbrella brand "Heimspiel Zukunft".
Show moreNumerous Bayer 04 players are currently away with their respective national teams and are mainly involved in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Read on for the blog covering the Werkself players on international duty.
Show moreHead coach Kasper Hjulmand will lead his first training session at Bayer 04 tomorrow, Wednesday 10 September. This is his newly formed coaching team.
Show more