"It was a good test for us even though the result is not good of course. We dominated, we played on the front foot and we could have scored more goals as we had enough chances," said Peter Bosz in summing up the game. As was the case a week ago, in the double matchday at Kurtekotten with games against Sittard (0-1) and Eupen (3-4), the Werkself head coach split his squad up into two teams for the matches against Watford and SD Eibar from Spain. The simple explanation: All his players were to get a lot of time on the pitch. "It's important that everybody plays a full game and we don't get any injuries," said the Dutchman.
Playing against the team that finished eleventh in the Premier League last season with temperatures around 30 degrees at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See, his side exerted pressure from the start and endeavoured to dominate proceedings and get forward. However, the opening goal was scored by the increasingly physical English team playing on the break: Will Hughes converted a whipped-in cross from the right side of the box to give Watford a 1-0 lead at the break (35').
Bayer 04 upped the tempo in the second 45 and created a number of chances that unfortunately went unconverted or were saved by the Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes. Instead it was the Hornets who struck for a second time – Andre Gray exploited a misplaced pass from Lukas Hradecky and he doubled the lead on 56 minutes. Towards the end, coach Javi Gracia's side dropped back and only mounted a couple of counter-attacks in the rest of the game. In contrast to the Werkself with new signing Moussa Diaby netting his first goal for the Black and Reds that provided some reward for the Werkself's efforts. Shortly after that, a Kevin Volland goal was ruled out for offside (69'). Above all in the closing stages, Bayer 04 pressed for the equaliser but were unable to find the back of the net. "The way the two goals we conceded came about was not good play by us. We can't afford to give the ball away and we have to be better organised. But the performance, and particularly our tempo, in the second half pleased me more," said Bosz.
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Dragovic, Sven Bender, Wendell – Lars Bender, Demirbay – Havertz, Paulinho, Diaby – Volland
A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.
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Once the final whistle was blown, it was time to take a deep breath. 2-0 down and a 5–2 win in the end. It was a nerve-wracking affair against FC Nürnberg in the second round of the 2026–27 DFB Pokal. Jonas Hofmann said – “We didn’t let our heads drop” – hitting the nail on the head. Indeed, it was clear the Werkself were not prepared to accept elimination from the DFB Pokal. So they went on to score. The Black and Reds made their presence felt with a goal just before half-time, followed by four more in the second half. Or, to put it another way: Edmond Tapsoba’s first Bayer 04 brace, a clinical penalty from Patrik Schick, yet another precision strike from Hofmann and a blistering volley from Lucas Vázquez. Each goal more beautiful than the last! After the match, head coach Carles Martínez praised his team’s commitment above all else and the fact that they never lost belief in themselves. The Werkself review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 5-2 win against 1. FC Nürnberg in the second round of the DFB-Pokal 2026/27...
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Bayer 04 came from 2-0 down to beat Nürnberg 5-2 in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal on Wednesday night. Edmond Tapsoba’s double either side of half-time sparked the turnaround, before Patrik Schick, Jonas Hofmann and Lucas Vázquez ensured progress to the last 16 for the 2024 cup winners.
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