Compared with the 4-0 win against Union Berlin before the international break, head coach Xabi Alonso made one change: Robert Andrich replaced Jonathan Tah in defence. The 4,000 travelling Bayer 04 fans witnessed a forceful approach from Werder Bremen at the start of the game. As usual, the Werkself endeavoured to maintain possession and control the game. There were brief celebrations on six minutes when Victor Boniface found the back of the net from a Granit Xhaka pass but it was chalked off due to an offside decision.
The lead did come shortly after that: A cross from Jonas Hofmann found Bremen player Olivier Deman but his attempt to clear ended up with the ball in the back of his own net (9'). Boniface had a good chance to make it 2-0 after 15 minutes but the shot on goal was blocked. The Werkself continued to have the upper hand, had more of the game and were quick to win the ball back after losing possession. The at times very involved passing in midfield rarely ended in clear-cut chances as Werder Bremen were alert at the back. The committed approach from the Werkself was rewarded again at the end of the first half: Piero Hincapie put the ball into the box following a corner and Boniface missed the chance to finish. Behind him was Jeremie Frimpong who fired the ball into the top corner at the far post (42’). Shortly after that came the half-time whistle.
Werder Bremen showed more energy after the restart and increasingly endeavoured to attack the Leverkusen goal. Striker Marvin Ducksch appeared to score for the hosts but there was an offside in the build-up – the score remained 2-0. The game was now more evenly balanced with the Werkself confronted by an ambitious Bremen side.
Alonso brought on fresh legs up front with Amine Adli replacing Boniface. And the Moroccan quickly proved to be a fortunate introduction: He set Alejandro Grimaldo through on the left on 76 minutes and the Spaniard headed to the opposition goal to score with a shot from a tight angle to the far post to make it 3-0 on 76 minutes. Grimaldo then helped set up Adli for a strike but referee Martin Petersen again ruled it offside. Werder were denied a consolation goal late on when substitute Justin Njinmah hit the bar. At the other end, Adam Hlozek and Hofmann also tried to score. However, there were no other goals and the away win was sealed.
Bayer 04 are next in action in the penultimate group match in the UEFA Europa League: The Werkself are away to Häcken on Thursday 30 November (kick-off: 21.00 CET). That is followed on Sunday 3 December (kick-off: 17.30 CET) by a home game against Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga matchday 13.
Match stats:
Werder Bremen: Zetterer - Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung (Stark 82') - Weiser, Stage, Deman (Agu 56') - Schmid, Bittencourt (Njinmah 72') - Borré (Woltemade 72'), Ducksch
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Andrich, Hincapie – Frimpong (Tella 80'), Xhaka (Puerta 89'), Palacios, Grimaldo – Hofmann (Amiri 89'), Wirtz (Hlozek 80') – Boniface (Adli 72')
Goals: 0-1 Deman (own goal, 9’), 0-2 Frimpong (42’), 0-3 Grimaldo (76’)
Yellow cards: Bittencourt, Friedl, Deman - Grimaldo
Referee: Martin Petersen (Stuttgart)
Attendance: 42,100 (sold out) at the Weserstadion
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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