Head coach Xabi Alonso rotated again for the meeting with the Wolves and made six changes from the 2-2 draw at Qarabag in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg. Lukas Hradecky returned between the posts, while Josip Stanisic and Piero Hincapie started in front of him in the defence. Granit Xhaka was recalled in midfield, along with Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick in attack.
The Werkself took control from kick-off against VfL and dominated with possession and several moves, albeit without threatening in the opening minutes. That didn't come until the 22nd minute, when Xhaka fed the overlapping Wirtz on the left, but the Werkself's number 10 could only strike the post with his first-time finish. The visitors largely banked on counter opportunities and Leverkusen mistakes, and that's how their best chance came about when Edmond Tapsoba's attempted clearance wasn't accurate enough - Cedric Zesiger tested Hradecky with a first-time shot, the Finn tipping the ball over the bar on 26 minutes.
Three minutes later, Moritz Jenz fouled Schick on the edge of the box and the Wolfsburg defender was shown his second yellow card. The hosts promptly took advantage of their numerical advantage in the 37th minute: Alejandro Grimaldo got close to the left byline before crossing into the middle where Nathan Tella headed home to give Alonso's men a deserved half-time lead.
It was a similar story after the restart: Leverkusen continued to make the running going forward and had everything under control defensively, although clear chances were again in short supply - which was also down to opponents who were now defending very deeply. The best opportunities fell to substitute Amine Adli with a header and Xhaka from distance. The Werkself continued to move the ball around in front of the opposition penalty area but struggled to break through the passive Wolfsburg rearguard. Four minutes from time, the visitors' resistance was finally broken: with a perfect pass behind the Wolves' defensive line, Palacios set up Wirtz, who converted first-time to wrap up a 2-0 win.
It's another busy week for the Werkself ahead of the international break. They host Qarabag for the return leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie this Thursday, 14 March (kick-off 21:00 CET). Three days later, Bayer 04 are back in Bundesliga action as they visit SC Freiburg on Sunday 17 March (kick-off 15:30 CET).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Stanisic, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie (Adli 59') – Xhaka, Palacios (Andrich 90') – Tella (Hofmann 76'), Wirtz (Hlozek 90'), Grimaldo – Schick (Iglesias 76')
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Lacroix, Jenz, Zesiger (Wimmer 87') – Baku, Gerhardt (Behrens 87'), Arnold, Paredes – Majer (Vranckx 62'), Tomás (Sarr 62') – Wind (Bornauw 32')
Goals: 1-0 Tella (37'), 2-0 Wirtz (86')
Yellow cards: Adli / Gerhardt
Red cards: Jenz
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Attendance: 29,314 (home section sold out) at the BayArena
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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