The Werkself completed eleven strenuous training sessions in SalzburgerLand and Roger Schmidt led another session in the morning before leading his team into action in the evening at the Alois Latini Stadium. Levin Öztunali only needed eight minutes to give the impressive Bayer 04 the lead. Kevin Kampl, who had most time on the pitch with 85 minutes, was on the ball and he picked out Chicharito and the Mexican produced a perfect diagonal ball to set up the youngster Öztunali and the right winger made no mistake in giving Bayer 04 the lead.
The Werkself sat back a little and Fiorentina, who finished fifth in Serie A last season, and conceded few chances. As ever, Bayer 04 could rely on Bernd Leno to prevent Mauro Zárate (12’) and Matias Vecino (29’) scoring. The score remained 1-0 at the half-time.
Lots of changes, lots of goals
Roger Schmidt made eight changes. Kampl, Chicharito and Mehmedi stayed on with the Switzerland international making his mark on the left flank. He was rewarded with a goal on 61 minutes. Wendell whipped in a cross from the left for Mehmedi to convert. Schmidt practised that move in the morning session. Mehmedi was substituted straight away to allow Julian Baumgartlinger to make his first appearance after recovering from a groin injury.
The Salzburg-born player was able to impress in his home game but the Werkself conceded. After Leverkusen lost possession Fiorentina were quick to move the ball and the Croatia international Nikola Kalinic scored to make it 2-1 (73’). The suspense did not last long: The Werkself took control. Kevin Volland posed a definite threat. André Ramalho hit the bar on 50 minutes from a cross from the new signings following the Italians scoring. Joel Pohjanpalo just missed the target on 77 minutes. Once again the move was accompanied by “Danger, danger” calls from the Leverkusen fans.
A minute later Kampl crowned his outstanding performance: Pohjanpalo succeeded in outfoxing his opposite number on the left flank and crossed the ball for Kampl to convert. He tucked it in at the near post – the keeper Ciprian Tätärusanu failed to impress. That was the final act of a fascinating encounter that saw the Werkself earn a deserved victory. The squad can head happy on Friday.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Leno (Özcan 46’) – Jedvaj (Hilbert 46’), Papadopoulos (Tah 46’), Toprak (Ramalho 46’), Henrichs (Wendell 46’) – Aránguiz (Yurchenko 46’), Kampl (Boeder 85’) – Öztunali (Bellarabi 85’), Calhanoglu (Volland 85’), Mehmedi (Baumgartlinger 62’) – Chicharito (Pohjanpalo 68’).
Goals: 1-0 Öztunali (8’), 2-0 Mehmedi (61’), 2-1 Kalinic (73’), 3-1 Kampl (78’).
The team departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 from July 14-24. The preseason journey marks a change from recent training camps in the Austrian Alps and Black Forest and we caught up with CEO Fernando Carro to ask him about this summer's visit to Brazil.
Show moreMalik Tillman and the USA could not quite achieve the hoped-for big win in their own country. Last Monday’s final in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston ended up in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts against Mexico. But the Bayer 04 new signing can be very happy with the course of the tournament and his own performances. Tillman was in the starting line-up for all six games. That concluded an impressive season for him after winning the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Bayer04.de profiles the 23-year-old new signing.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the USA international Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Werkself from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Tillman, with German roots and born in Nuremberg, has a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030. He scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 34 games for PSV last season. Three of those goals and two assists were in six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Show moreThe second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
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