Bayer 04 head coach Kasper Hjulmand made just one change from the 6-3 win over VfL Wolfsburg: Aleix Garcia was recalled to the starting line-up after suspension at the expense of Ezequiel Fernández. Lucas Vázquez was included in the squad for the first time since late February having recovered from his calf injury, but Jarell Quansah missed out again. In the clash with the best team of the second half of the season so far - BVB had won 10 of their last 12 league games - the Werkself initially focused on maintaining defensive solidity. Dortmund had more possession at the beginning but didn't really threaten until the 17th minute with Daniel Svensson's shot, which the well-positioned Loïc Badé managed to claw away from the far corner of the net with his head.
Bayer 04 began to make more inroads in attack around the half-hour mark, with both Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane warming the gloves of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. With more of the play taking place in the Dortmund half, Leverkusen got their reward in the 42nd minute. Robert Andrich won the ball on the edge of the box, pulled the trigger and found the corner with a bouncing shot to put the visitors in front.
Following the restart, Dortmund upped the tempo, while the Werkself defended alertly with organiser Edmond Tapsoba and waited for opportunities on the counter. Hjulmand made the first change with Patrik Schick replacing Kofane on 54 minutes, and the Czech was involved immediately. After receiving the ball from Maza, Schick aimed for the near corner but Kobel saved with his body. Bayer 04 largely kept the hosts at bay after that with controlled possession. More substitutions followed with Ernest Poku and Vásquez coming on for Nathan Tella and Montrell Culbreath (74;).
Bayer 04 were given one scare when Serhou Guirassy struck the bar from a tight angle (83'). Shortly after that, Schick missed the chance to make it 2-0 for Leverkusen when Kobel saved his header from Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. The Werkself held on during three minutes of added time and celebrated their success wildly - the second win of the season in Dortmund after the 1-0 victory in the DFB Pokal.
Next up for the Werkself is a home game against FC Augsburg on Matchday 30. Kick-off at the BayArena is at 15:30 CEST on Saturday 18 April.
Match stats:
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson (Kabar 75'), Bellingham (Özcan 75'), Svensson (Beier 59') – Sabitzer (Chukwuemeka 64'), Brandt – Guirassy, Fabio Silva (Inacio 64')
Bayer 04: Flekken – Andrich, Badé, Tapsoba – Culbreath (Vázquez 74'), Garcia, Palacios, Grimaldo – Maza (90'+2 Tillman), Tella (Poku 74') – Kofane (Schick 54')
Goal: 0-1 Andrich (42')
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)
Yellow cards: Bensebaini, Guirassy, Beier / -
Attendance: 81,365 at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK (sold out)
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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