"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 great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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A month on from the last match of the old year, the Werkself also play the first game of the new year in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Roberto Pätzold's side open Matchday 15 with the meeting at promoted side 1. FC Union Berlin on Friday (18:30 CET).
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