Werkself beat FC Zürich 4-1 in final friendly before Christmas

In contrast to the last friendly at Rangers (0-3), head coach Xabi Alonso opted for a 3-4-3 formation with four changes to his starting eleven: In defence, Odilon Kossounou and Piero Hincapie started in place of Daley Sinkgraven and Jonathan Tah. In midfield, Jeremie Frimpong, just back from the World Cup, plus U19 player Noah Pesch came in for Ayman Azhil and Kerem Demirbay. In addition, Florian Wirtz made his first return to the starting line-up, Amine Adli dropped down to the bench. The team also included: Niklas Lomb, Sardar Azmoun, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Daley Sinkgraven, Madi Monamay and Karim Bellarabi.

diaby and wirtz put werkself two up

There was a quiet start to the game from both teams although the Werkself gradually worked their way forward into the FCZ half and they dominated possession. Above all, Wirtz and Diaby again and again stood out up front in the Black and Red attack. With 23 minutes on the clock, Wirtz just failed to find his French teammate with a cross. On 36 minutes, again it was the 19-year-old Wirtz who put the ball through to Diaby on the right and his low shot went just the wrong side of the far post. 

The lead did come two minutes later: Diaby intercepted a misplaced pass from FC Zürich keeper Yanick Brecher and shot from the edge of the box. The ball was deflected but did end up in the back of the net – 1-0 for the Werkself (38').

Wirtz then scored just before half-time: After good build-up play from Hlozek and Frimpong, the Werkself number 27 fired a shot into the top left corner from inside the penalty area to make it 2-0. That was the score at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Azmoun and Adli extend lead

Xabi Alonso made four changes for the start of the second half: Niklas Lomb was between the sticks, Amine Adli, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Sardar Azmoun played up front. The latter broke down the right on 63 minutes and succeeding in converting a shot to make it 3-0. A minute later, the visitors from Switzerland pulled a goal back through Cheick Condé with an impressive shot from 25 yards out into the top corner.

Substitute Adli scored with an fine strike four minutes from time: From a long ball from Hudson-Odoi, which Bellarabi skilfully dummied, the 22-year-old lobbed the ball over the Zürich keeper into the back of the net to make it 4-1.

break followed by more friendlies

The Werkself now go into a well-deserved Christmas break. However, there will be not a lot of time to rest: Xabi Alonso will hold the first training session on Tuesday 3 January. The Alonso team have two friendlies in January against Venezia FC on 7 January (kick-off: 15.00 CET) plus at home to FC Copenhagen on 15 January (kick-off: 15.00 CET). The first competitive match in the New Year for the Black and Reds is on 22 January: Leverkusen are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach (kick-off: 17.30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 16.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky (Lomb 46') – Kossounou (Monamay 66’), Tapsoba, Hincapie – Frimpong (Sinkgraven 66’), Andrich, Sertdemir (Bellarabi 66’), Pesch (Okafor 66’) – Diaby (Adli 46'), Hlozek (Azmoun 46'), Wirtz (Hudson-Odoi 46')

FC Zürich: Brecher – Kamberi, Guerrero, Aliti, Omeragic, Hodza, Condé, Selnaes, Viunnyk, Marchesano, Krasniqi 

Goals: 1-0 Diaby (38’), 2-0 Wirtz (45’), 3-0 Azmoun (63’), 3-1 Condé (64’), 4-1 Adli (86’)

Referee: Nico Fuchs (DJK Dürscheid)

Attendance: 3,000 (sell-out) at Ulrich Haberland Stadium