1-1 – Werkself miss out on away win at St. Pauli

Xabi Alonso made one change to his starting XI compared with the goalless draw against Union Berlin: Florian Wirtz replaced Aleix Garcia in midfield to make his first start since the beginning of March. The hosts made the livelier start in the opening minutes as they pressed forward with Manolis Saliakas having the first chance of the game on seven minutes. At the other end of the pitch, Jeremie Frimpong had the first effort on goal for the Werkself after an impressive move involving Wirtz and Nathan Tella (14'). The Werkself gradually gained control as they adapted to the high pressing from St. Pauli who were without their captain Jackson Irvine for the first time in the current Bundesliga campaign.

Schick gives the Werkself the lead

The action then was mainly between the penalty areas with further chances initially absent. With the next attacking move, the champions of Germany then took the lead: A free kick from Alejandro Grimaldo from the right of the penalty area found the head of Patrik Schick who was able to head home from close range (32'). The 18th goal of the season for the Czechia international, currently the second top goalscorer in the Bundesliga, gave Bayer 04 a narrow lead at half-time.

St. Pauli level late on

There was a slow start to the second half until Lukas Hradecky made an impressive save to keep out a tricky free kick from a tight angle from St. Pauli's Eric Smith. Apart from this set-piece from the hosts, Jonathan Tah and Co. provided a reliable defence – until the home crowd at the Millerntor celebrated for the first time: A cross from midfield found St. Pauli's Morgan Guilavogui unmarked in front of Hradecky and he turned the ball into the net. Referee Sören Storks ruled the goal out as he explained via the stadium sound system as the goalscorer had handled the ball (74'). The ball was again in the Leverkusen net four minutes later – and this time it counted. Carlo Boukhalfa scored with a tap-in to make it 1-1. The Werkself endeavoured to strike back and had two chances through Grimaldo and Piero Hincapie (79', 81',) but failed to score. The final result was a draw at the Millerntor.

outlook: penultimate home against FCA

FC Augsburg visit the BayArena on Saturday, 26 April. The kick-off is at 15:30 CEST. The opponents to the end of the season are SC Freiburg (4 May/away), Borussia Dortmund (11 May/home) and Mainz 05 (17 May/away).

Match stats:

St. Pauli: Vasilj - Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden - Saliakas, Metcalfe (Weißhaupt 59'), Smith, Treu - Guilavogui (Afolayan 90+1'), Sinani (Saad 90+1'), Boukhalfa (Wagner 85’)

Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tapsoba (Buendía 89'), Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Wirtz, Tella (Boniface 89') - Schick (Adli 66’)

Goals: 0-1 Schick (32’), 1-1 Boukhalfa (78’)

Yellow cards: Smith - Hincapie, Hradecky, Frimpong, Tella

Referee: Sören Storks (Velen)

Attendance: 29,546 at the Millerntor-Stadion