2-0 against Nürnberg - Alario and Volland score for the Werkself

Bayer 04 head coach Peter Bosz fielded the same starting eleven that beat Stuttgart 1-0 last Saturday. The Werkself skipper Lars Bender returned to the squad in place of Isaac Kiese Thelin.

The match on Easter Saturday proved to be a hot affair and not just because the summer temperatures of 26°. A win for the visitors from Nuremberg and a defeat for VfB Stuttgart at Augsburg would see FCN escape the bottom two for the first time in many weeks. For the Werkself in eighth position, it was about picking up important points in the race for a European finish.

Havertz hits the post

The hosts quickly seized the initiative, had lots of possession and moved the ball well in midfield against a Nürnberg side playing on the back of three games without defeat. The FCN penalty area was very crowded as the visitors were very compact in defence. A whipped-in cross from Julian Brandt was intercepted by Nürnberg's keeper Christian Mathenia (11') and then Ewerton made a last-ditch sliding tackle to deny Charles Aránguiz (14'). Then came the first big chance of the game when Kai Havertz shot from 16 yards out only for Mathenia to turn the ball onto the post (17').

FC Nürnberg were rarely able to mount an attack as Bayer 04 succeeding in pressing the Franconians back into their own half. However, the final ball lacked accuracy. Leon Bailey tried it down the left with a dribble but was unable to place his shot – leaving Mathenia with no problem making the save (31'). That move did have its consequences: Bailey suffered a hamstring injury and had to go off. The Jamaican was replaced by Lucas Alario. The Argentinian played in the centre of the attack with Volland moving out to the left flank.

The Werkself found it difficult to penetrate a compact Nürnberg defence. FCN kept putting a leg or a foot in the way. Shortly before half-time there was a very good opportunity for Alario but he was unable to apply enough power to his header from a fine cross from Volland – and Mathenia was in the right spot (40+2'). It was goalless at half-time with the hosts clearly dominating proceedings.

"We kept squandering our chances and rarely had a chance to finish," said Stefan Kießling to Sky TV during the half-time break. "We need to be a bit more focused in the second half."

The second 45 minutes began where the first had left off: with Leverkusen on top. Patrick Erras prevented Aránguiz shooting when he intervened with his long leg at the last moment (49'), Mitchell Weiser pulled out another save from Mathenia with a long-range effort (52'), Brandt clearly missed the target from 23 yards out (54'), and Volland failed to pick out one of his team-mates after being put through by Havertz (55'). It was all one-way traffic.

ALARIO with a header

The Werkself were finally rewarded for their relentless efforts: Alario rose highest from a Brandt corner to head the ball into the right corner, Tim Leibold endeavoured to clear – but as the goal line technology proved – it was clearly behind the line (61'). The 1-0 lead for the hosts was long overdue. The Black and Reds continued to press for a second strike after the fourth goal of the season for Alario. Mathenia pulled off a great save to deny Havertz from 20 yards out (69'), Jonathan Tah was completely unmarked but his header from close range went well wide of the target (72'). Once again the Nürnberg goalkeeper pulled off a save to keep out a shot from Volland from the left edge of the box (75').

Volland Seals it

Bayer 04 had to remain alert. The best chance for Nürnberg was missed by Eduard Löwen as his shot from the edge of the box went wide of Lukas Hradecky's goal (85'). That was a close call. The reply almost came straightaway. Nürnberg lost the ball and Brandt intercepted, crossed to Alario who passed it on to Volland – and the Werkself number 31 finished the move making it 2-0 for Bayer 04 (86'). That was the final scoreline.

"We dominated the game over 90 minutes but Nürnberg defended well today and you need to be very patient against such a compact team," said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolf has after the game.

The next challenge for the Werkself on Bundesliga matchday 31 is an away game at FC Augsburg. The fixture on Friday 26 April kicks off at 20.30 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Aránguiz, Baumgartlinger, Brandt (Paulinho 89') – Havertz (Kohr 88'), Volland, Bailey (Alario 34')

FC Nürnberg: Mathenia – Bauer, Mühl, Ewerton (Margreitter 79'), Leibold - Erras - Löwen, Behrens - Pereira, Kerk (Misidjan 62') - Ishak (Tillman 75')

Goals:  1-0 Alario (61'), 2-0 Volland (86')

Referee: Guido Winkmann (Kerken)

Booked:  -

Attendance: 27,000