Werkself off to winning start in 2023

23 players were in the Werkself squad today. Xabi Alonso opted to start with a 3-4-1-2 formation with Andrey Lunev in goal, a defensive line-up of Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba, wearing the captain's armband for the first time, plus Piero Hincapie. Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong were the wingbacks. World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios, Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz were in midfield. The Spanish coach began with Adam Hlozek and Amine Adli up front.

On the bench were Niklas Lomb, Robert Andrich, Sardar Azmoun, Kerem Demirbay, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Moussa Diaby, Zidan Sertdemir, Ayman Azhil, Karim Bellarabi plus U19 players Madi Monamay and Noah Pesch.

double whAMMY FROM wirtz and Adli 

The Werkself were focused in the first friendly of the New Year and controlled the game but were unable to create any clear-cut chances in the first 20 minutes against a deep lying Venezia defence. After initial opportunities for Amiri from distance (25) plus Adli from a Frimpong cross (33), Wirtz broke the deadlock on 37 minutes beating three opponents in one-on-ones before hitting a low shot into the bottom right corner to give Bayer 04 a 1-0 lead.

The Black and Reds broke through the Venezia defence again a minute before half-time: This time it was Hlozek, set up with a diagonal ball from teammate Adli, who was able to beat the Venezia keeper Jesse Joronen to the ball before slotting it into the net to make it 2-0. That was the score at half-time.

Werkself start well, Venezia net consolation

Alonso made seven changes at half-time: Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich, Kerem Demirbay, Karim Bellarabi, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Moussa Diaby and Sardar Azmoun came on. Andrey Lunev remained in goal behind the two defenders Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie plus Mitchel Bakker. 67 minutes saw the introduction of the youngest players in the squad: Madi Monamay, Ayman Azhil and Zidan Sertdemir.

Although the Black and Reds continued to have the upper hand in the second half, it was the visitors on 68 minutes who scored the next goal: After Demirbay lost the ball in his own penalty area, Venezia's Magnus Andersen gained possession and teammate Andrija Novakovich exploited the situation as he hit a shot towards goal. Lunev got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out – the team under Paolo Vanoli made it 2-1.