Austria's game against Ireland ended in great disappointment for the Werkself trio of Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic and Ramazan Özcan. A win for Austria would have put them level on points with the Irish but a painful 1-0 defeat could mean they are cut adrift in the World Cup qualifiers with only four games played. McClean scored the only goal of the game for the group leaders Ireland just after the break. Austria, already four points behind second spot, play Slovakia in a friendly on Tuesday. The three Bayer 04 pros played the full 90 minutes.
Turkey and Croatia were more successful. Turkey, with Hakan Calhanoglu playing the whole game, secured a regulation 2-0 win against underdogs Kosovo. After a goalless first half, the team coached by Fatih Terim netted two goals in quick succession with Burak (51') and Sen (55') getting on the scoresheet. That victory puts them back in touch with Iceland and Ukraine.
Croatia are top of Group I with ten points after a 2-0 win behind closed doors against the surprise team from Euro 2016 Iceland. It was the first defeat for Iceland in the current qualifying rounds. Brozovic scored both goals for Croatia (15',90') and Perisic was sent off. Tin Jedvaj did not play but he can hope to get a start in Tuesday’s friendly against Northern Ireland.
Chicha in last-minute winner
Mexico had every reason to celebrate. The team, with Bayer 04 striker Chicharito up front, ended a run of four defeats against the USA. This time Mexico won the important first and emotionally laden World Cup qualifier against the great rivals from the north 2-1. Jürgen Klinsmann, USA coach, saw the winner scored by the 37-year-old captain Rafael Marquez with a header on 89 minutes. Miguel Layun opened the scoring for Mexico on 20 minutes before the Hamburg SV player Bobby Wood levelled on 49 minutes. Mexico's next match is in Panama in the early hours of Wednesday.
St. Pauli are the visitors to Leverkusen for today’s 3.30pm CET kick-off on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga, with some 3,000 fans from Hamburg coming to a sold-out BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show moreBayer 04 take on St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years in front of a sold-out BayArena crowd on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about Pauli’s “structure and dynamic”, as well as options in attack in the absence of Patrik Schick and the final run to the end of the year.
Show moreFor the first time in 13 years, Bayer 04 welcome St. Pauli to the BayArena this Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). The promoted side have shown so far that that are a tough nut to crack, while last week’s first home win of the season proves they have potential in attack. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreBayer 04 Women produced an excellent performance to beat Wolfsburg 1-0 at home on Friday night and knock the She-Wolves off top spot in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as the season reached its halfway stage. Cornelia Kramer got the only goal early in the second half in front of a crowd of 1,510 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The result makes it five straight wins in all competitions for Leverkusen, who go top overnight on 26 points – the best total in the club’s history from the first half of a Bundesliga season – ahead of the DFB Pokal holders with 25.
Show more