Back
19.11.2017Bayer 04

What the papers say: Absorbing game with impressive finishing

The media are united in expressing a positive assessment of the 2-2 draw between Bayer 04 and RB Leipzig.
Volland_Bellarabi_Retsos_Wendell_Emotionen.jpg

The Sunday edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger identified a winner in spite of the drawn result and that was the crowd:  "At first sight, the 2-2 draw does not really help either of the two teams involved – and yet it produced a winner after a spectacular and highly exciting match: The crowd who were fortunate to see an unusually good match." And the author concluded with this assessment: "Bayer demonstrated that they can compete with one of the top teams like Leipzig and underlined the positive impression with an impressively battling performance."
The Sonntags Express praises the commitment of the Werkself playing with ten men: "Bayer did not give up when down to ten men in a repeat of recent impressive second-half performances. The just rewards followed on 73 minutes. It was down to Kevin Volland to round off this incredible game with an incredible finish. Bayer's best goalscorer scored the deserved equaliser at 2-2 with a volley from a scissors kick." And the Express also looks at the development of recent weeks: "After the 2-2 draw with Leipzig, the Werkself have now not lost in eight games. They continue to be unbeaten at the BayArena. Also it was the 17th game in succession with at least one Bayer goal." 
The Bild am Sonntag emphasises that Bayer 04 were clearly the better side, above all in the final stages: "The game really got going. And how! Leverkusen launched attack after attack. With ten men? That doesn't bother us! Kevin Volland scored with a scissors kick on 73 minutes, how else? An incredible goal in an incredible game!"
And the Rheinische Post is also impressed by the phase of the match after the sending off: "There was real atmosphere in the game and not just in the stands. The Werkself were enraged and had a clear-cut double chance on 55 minutes through Volland and Havertz that did not produce the hoped-for leveller. It was Havertz again who had a shot blocked on 63 minutes. Spurred on by the supporters, Leverkusen pressed aggressively  as rarely before and they succeeded in pushing Leipzig back deep into their own half despite being a man down ."
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung confirmed their assessment of the game that was shared by the Leipzig coach before the match: "Ralph Hasenhüttl, RB Leipzig head coach, spoke like a fan ahead of the game between the team in second and ninth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. ' If I was a fan,' he said,' then I'd go to this match.' Why? the Austrian football aficionado firmly believed that the BayArena on this Saturday would witness an offensive encounter with absorbing moves and impressive finishing."
The online edition of the Leipziger Volkszeitung (online) draws the following conclusion for the last half hour of the game: "The surprising consequence: In spite of being a man down, Bayer were so frustrated that they had the Leipzig defence wobbling. Hasenhüttl brought on Augustin in place of Keita, and Upamecano for the booked Orban. However, RB were unable to exploit the extra man and kept being caught out. The second equaliser from the hosts scored by Kevin Volland from a corner was absolutely deserved – and that was the final score."
Under the headline 'Volland has the last word in highlight film' the online edition of the Kicker declares: "Everything that this clash promised in advance came to be: There were a number of highlights in the test of strength between Leverkusen and Leipzig on Bundesliga matchday 12. One example: In addition to the four goals in the 2-2 draw there were chances, two penalties and a red card. In short: Bayer and RB provided the crowd with a real treat."

Related News

crop_imago1070815431.jpg
Bayer 04 - 01.01.2026

AFCON blog: Werkself quartet in last 16 - Maza and Kofane score

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.01.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s January highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Martin Terrier gegen 1. FC Köln
Bayer 04 - 30.12.2025

Bundesliga Goal of the Year: Vote now for Terrier or Wirtz

With their wonderful goals, Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz are up for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025. Voting for fans will run exclusively via the official Bundesliga app until Sunday, 4 January.

Show more
Fernando Carro und Simon Rolfes
Bayer 04 - 30.12.2025

Carro and Rolfes' year-end interview: 'A new beginning – and promising prospects'

The ‘year after’ the most successful year in the club's history brought many changes at Bayer 04. In an exclusive double interview with bayer04.de shortly before the Christmas break, Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes spoke about building a new team capable of winning trophies, the work of coach Kasper Hjulmand, the young new signings who have quickly developed into key players, and their personal plans for the Christmas holidays. Their outlook for the coming year also shows that the potential is far from exhausted and ambitions remain high.

Show more
U19 von Bayer 04
Youth - 29.12.2025

Youth teams review 2025: Thrilling final and historic progress in Youth League

Last-minute ecstasy, huge disappointment and a historic performance on the European stage - 2025 was a real emotional roller coaster, especially for the U19s. A rousing run in the knockout phase secured the team a place in the final of the German championships, where they lost by the narrowest of margins. Despite the departure of several key players, the young Werkself team quickly regained their usual strength and qualified for the knockout rounds in the UEFA Youth League for the first time at the end of the year. In 2025, youngsters Jeremiah Mensah and Montrell Culbreath made their debuts in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. The other youth teams also contributed great performances and a number of trophies to the collective Black and Red success, while the successful Bayer 04 Future Kids project broke new ground. Read on for the 2025 review of the youth teams.

Show more