Germany and the Netherlands had already qualified for the Euro 2020 finals from Group C on the previous matchday – in the final international fixture of the year it was all about winning the group for Germany in the game against Northern Ireland.
Germany coach Jogi Löw made five changes from the team that beat Belarus 4-0 on Saturday when no Werkself players were involved. Jonathan Tah and the former Leverkusen players Emre Can and Julian Brandt were given their chance.
Northern Ireland took an early lead on eight minutes when Michael Smith scored following a throw in – leaving no chance for Marc-André ter Stegen in the Germany net. After conceding, Germany upped their game and applied a lot of pressure. The deserved equaliser came on 19 minutes from Serge Gnabry who hit an excellent shot on the turn. Leon Goretzka made it 2-1 just before the half-time whistle (43').
The Löw team kept it tight at the back in the second half and Gnabry was unstoppable. He made it 3-1 shortly after the restart on 47 minutes and, shortly after that, Brandt provided an assist for the next goal – 4-1 (59'). Germany were in complete control. Leon Goretzka on 72 minutes and Julian Brandt in added time netted at 5-1 and 6-1 to seal the result. The hat-trick hero went off to be replaced by Nadiem Amiri for the last nine minutes.
'Die Mannschaft' ended up as group winners thanks to the victory over Northern Ireland on 21 points ahead of the Netherlands on 19 after they beat Estonia 5-0.
Austria, who were also already through to Euro 2020, lost 1-0 against Latvia. The two Werkself pros Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger started against the team at the bottom of the group. The two sides went into half-time all square at 0-0. Baumgartlinger was substituted at half-time. Latvia scored on 65 minutes and held onto their 1-0 lead to the end. Austria finished second in Group G with 19 points behind Poland on 25.
Moussa Diaby also had to accept defeat on Tuesday night in a European Championship qualifier when the French U20s lost 3-1 against Switzerland. The 20-year-old was substituted on 63 minutes. After four matchdays, France are on nine points behind leaders Switzerland (12) in Group two.
Finland played Greece on Monday night in the final European Championship qualifier. There was nothing at stake for the Eagle Owls as they had already secured participation in their first ever Euro finals by finishing group runners-up on the previous matchday. The national coach gave Hradecky a break and he was able to watch from the bench as Greece ran out 2-1 winners. Finland ended up second in Group J with 18 points behind Italy on 30 points.
Also on Monday night, Argentina and Uruguay drew 2-2 in a friendly. Lucas Alario did not play for the ‘Selección Argentina’ and Adrian Stanilewicz did not play for the Poland U20s in a friendly against Norway that ended in a 1-1 draw.
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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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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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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