Following the 4-0 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt, 04 Black and Red players made it into the kicker "team of the day". Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz are in it for the second time this season, and Paulinho is selected for the first time. Kicker also named the Brazilian "player of the day": "After his three moments of brilliance", the "promise for the distant future has suddenly grown quite close."
The Sportschau takes a similar view and included Paulinho, Havertz and Karim Bellarabi in their "team of the matchday". The BILD also awarded top marks and picked out Tapsoba, Havertz and Paulinho with places in their "team of the day".
After just 04 minutes, Havertz was in the right spot in the Bundesliga game against Frankfurt as he converted a cross from Moussa Diaby to open the scoring. That strike was at the same time the 30th Bundesliga goal for the Bayer 04 playmaker. At the age of 20 years and 270 days, Havertz is the youngest player in the history of the Bundesliga to reach that number of goals. The previous record holder was no less than Klaus Fischer – when he set the record back in 1970 he was 15 days older than Havertz when he reached the same number of goals.
Two goals scored plus an impressive assist: By being directly involved in three goals and with a pass rate of 88%, Paulinho played a key role in achieving the seventh home win in succession across all competitions.
N.B.: No other player in Europe's top five leagues were involved in as many goals at the weekend.
Werkself head coach Peter Bosz was also happy with the performance of his team – and, as a reward, he gave his players Sunday off and there was no session planned for Monday before the game against Frankfurt. The only players at the BayArena yesterday were those needing treatment due to the after effects of the match.
Rangers won their last league game ahead of the first leg in the Europa League Round of 16 (Thursday, 12 March, 21.00 CET). The team under head coach Steven Gerrard secured a 1-0 win against Ross County last night. The only goal of the game and scored by Ryan Kent on 77 minutes.
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Show more
Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
Show more
