Simon Rolfes was suitably happy after the final whistle. "It was a deserved win because Bielefeld practically didn't have any real chances. We really helped them out with the equaliser and played into Arminia's hands. That made it even more important for us to score the winner in the end,"
The match against Bielefeld marked the start of a demanding and hectic fixture schedule for Bayer 04 with ten games in 33 days. Coach Peter Bosz, who celebrated his 57th birthday on this matchday, made two changes to his starting line-up in comparison to the last match against Mönchengladbach . Central defender Edmond Tapsoba (Covid-19 infection after international duty with Burkina Faso) was replaced by Jonathan Tah and Daley Sinkgraven came in at left-back in place of Wendell. The Werkself are still missing long-term absentees Paulinho, Santiago Arias, Exequiel Palacios plus the skipper Charles Aránguiz. Patrik Schick returned to the squad for the first time since the game in Stuttgart on 3 October.
Bielefeld, who did not have any players on international duty in contrast to the Werkself, were looking to get back on track after five defeats in succession while Bayer 04 arrived at the Shüco Arena following four wins on the bounce. Both teams initially focused on retaining the ball and keeping their shape. Bayer 04 were in control mode from the start and maintained possession wherever possible. The Werkself had the first chance on goal on 12 minutes: Nadiem Amiri played the ball forward as he tried to pick out Moussa Diaby but Cedric Brunner intervened to clear the danger. Shortly after that, Diaby hit a shot from the left side of the penalty area but the Bielefeld keeper Stefan Ortega dived to the near post to turn the ball away for a corner (15').
Bielefeld completely handed over the initiative the Bayer 04. But Leverkusen were not even tempted to take too much risk. Instead they were even more relaxed and showed great understanding of the game when the opportunities arose: Leon Bailey played a one-two with Florian Wirtz before sprinting past Anderson Lucoqui, who was in the Bayer 04 youth set-up for several years, the rifle the ball over Ortega's head from six yards out under the bar at the near post to give Bayer 04 the lead (27'). In an incident with Sinkgraven, who came into contact with Ritsu Doan in the box, there was no whistle and no VAR intervention from the studio in Cologne (30'). The rest of the first half was controlled by a dominant Werkself who were in no danger at all. The lead at the half-time break was clearly deserved even though Arminia were very solid at the back.
There was one change at half-time for the visitors: Mitchell Weiser came on in place of Lars Bender for his first appearance of the season. With only a minute gone, Sven Bender was left lying on the deck after a challenge with Fabian Klos and he had to have treatment on his left ankle. Before the Werkself defender went off injured, it was suddenly 1-1 out of the blue. With a back pass from Sinkgraven, keeper Hradecky failed to connect with the ball and it rolled into the net – a very disappointing equaliser (47'). Sven Bender was replaced by Dragovic on 50 minutes.
Bailey set up Lucas Alario but his shot hit the side netting (50'). Bayer 04 were determined to quickly get back on track but the two changes in defence with the replacement of the Bender twins and the completely unnecessary equaliser had their effect. Peter Bosz reacted by bringing on Patrik Schick in place of Alario who was ineffective after the rigours of travelling back from international duty (68'). Then the Bayer 04 coach completed his substitutions: Kerem Demirbay and Karim Bellarabi replaced Amiri and Diaby (79').
The Werkself remained dominant but rarely had a decent opening behind the opposition defence. In the closing stages, Bielefeld restricted themselves to playing on the break. And then it came very close to Bayer 04 regaining the lead with both Julian Baumgartlinger and Schick just failing to connect with a cross from Demirbay (86'). Bielefeld were now on the ropes and Bayer 04 reaped the reward: Ortega managed to save shot from Weiser after a knockdown from Tah but the carefully aimed follow-up shot from the alert Aleksandar Dragovic ended up in the back of the net to make it 2-1 for the Werkself (88'). Shortly after that came the final whistle – and the team had presented Peter Bosz with the best possible sporting gift on his birthday.
Bayer 04 are back in action on Thursday 26 November with the fourth group match in the Europa League. The kick-off against Hapoel Be'er Sheva at the BayArena is at 21.00 CET. That is followed by the next game the Bundesliga on Sunday 29 November with a home game against Hertha Berlin kicking off at 15.30 CET.
Match stats:
Arminia Bielefeld: Ortega – Brunner, Pieper, van der Hoorn, Lucoqui – Prietl – Doan, Seufert (Kunze 79'), Hartel (Voglsammer 89’), Yabo (Soukou 79’) – Klos (Schipplock 63’)
Bayer 04: Hradecky – L. Bender (Weiser 46’), S. Bender (50. Dragovic), Tah, Sinkgraven – Wirtz, Baumgartlinger, Amiri (Demirbay 79’) – Bailey, Alario (Schick 68’), Diaby (Bellarabi 79’)
Goals: 0-1 Bailey (27’), 1-1 Hradecky (o.g 47’), 1-2 Dragovic (88’)
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)
Booked: Dragovic
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
Show more