4-1 in Bremen – Werkself run continues

Kerem Demirbay was suitably satisfied after the final whistle: "We definitely wanted to win this game and we did that really well. It was a great match and a very impressive performance by us." And Kai Havertz was also happy with the three points: "I'm very happy. We didn't make many mistakes and deserved to win. Now we want to carry on at Mönchengladbach on Saturday."

The Werkself returned to match action exactly 67 days after the last outing in the Europa League against Glasgow Rangers on 12 March. And the Bundesliga restart saw an internal club record broken: Florian Wirtz, who made the move to Bayer 04 from FC Köln in January, was a surprise choice in the starting eleven and, at the age of 17 years and 15 days, took over from the previous record holder Kai Havertz (17 years/126 days) as the youngest ever Bundesliga player for the Black and Reds. Havertz also made his top-flight debut in Bremen on 15 October 2016. Germany U17 international Wirtz is also the third youngest player to make his debut in the Bundesliga following on from Bremen's Nuri Sahin (then at Borussia Dortmund) and FC Köln's Yann Aurel Bisseck.

The Werkself, who clocked up an impressive return of eleven wins and one draw in 13 games in 2020 before the suspension of the league, had to manage without captain Lars Bender (foot) and Kevin Volland (ankle) in Bremen. Coach Peter Bosz made four changes to the side that started the last match in Scotland: Jonathan Tah, Aleksander Dragovic, Wendell and Karim Bellarabi were replaced by Sven Bender, Nadiem Amiri, Daley Sinkgraven and Florian Wirtz. The Bayer 04 coach opted for a very flexible system with a back four with Havertz nominally the furthest up front ahead of an impressive midfield line-up – and with forwards Lucas Alario, Leon Bailey, Bellarabi and Paulinho on the bench, there was strength in depth for the possible five substitutions during the game. Wendell was not in the squad for the match at the Weserstadion.

Wirtz impresses from the start

Kai Havertz led Bayer 04 out for the second game behind closed doors in the club's history following the Champions League clash at AS Roma in November 2004. The Werkself dominated proceedings from the start and it took just 100 seconds for Wirtz to make his mark on the game: It was great how the self-assertive youngster with the number 27 left Marco Friedl stranded on the right wing with a body swerve. Leverkusen were clearly on top for the first 15 minutes and produced some good moves. A whipped-in cross by Moussa Diaby from the left was plucked out of the air by the Bremen keeper Jiri Pavlenka (8'). The first threat from Werder Bremen came from a Niklas Moisander header from a corner (17').

Havertz bags a brace of headers

The game took off just before the half-hour mark. Pavlenka pulled off a save at the near post to keep out a well-hit shot from Amiri at the expense of a corner (27'). Shortly after that, the Bremen keeper was helpless as Havertz headed across Pavlenka to convert a fine cross from the right by Diaby (28'). But Werder hit straight back from a set-piece: Leonardo Bittencourt sent in a corner that saw Selassie just beat Sinkgraven to the ball that left Lukas Hradecky with no chance – 1-1 (30'). But the Werkself also know how to use a dead ball: A free kick from Demirbay from the right of the penalty area was well placed for Havertz to run in and score another header for his eighth goal of the season that put Bayer 04 2-1 up (33').

The Werkself had a lucky escape shortly after that when Milos Veljkovic was put through by Bittencourt in a one-on-one with Hradecky but his hurried shot flew high over the target (39'). The superior and livelier visitors completely deserved to be in the lead at half-time.

Weiser also uses his head

There were no changes at half-time. Bremen did look to get forward and break up the opposition play but again found it difficult to penetrate the disciplined Leverkusen defence. And Bayer 04 remained clinical in front of goal: A cross from Diaby from the byline was headed in by Weiser – 3-1 (61'). Peter Bosz then made his first two changes bringing on Bellarabi and Bailey for the impressive debutant Wirtz and the provider of two assists Diaby (60'). Almost immediately after that, Maxi Eggestein missed the chance to pull a goal back when he put the ball wide of the left-hand upright from a promising position (63').

Demirbay's first in the league

Havertz had a chance the net his third goal but his shot was deflected just past the post (69'). Julian Baumgartlinger then replaced Amiri (71'). Bayer 04 remained in control as they moved the ball and opponents around the pitch almost at will – and then they extended the lead: A dribble and no-look pass from Bellarabi to Demirbay, with only Pavlenka to beat, saw Kerem take his time and coolly lob the ball into the back of the net – the fourth Leverkusen strike on the night (78') and it was also the first Bundesliga goal for the Werkself by the former Hoffenheim player.

Peter Bosz made another double change bringing on Paulinho and Alario for the goalscorers Demirbay and Havertz (85'). The final whistle soon followed – and the Werkself players made full use of their elbows to celebrate the successful return to their league campaign after a long, enforced break.

Bayer 04 are back in Bundesliga action on matchday 27 with an away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 23 May with a 15.30 CET kick off.

Match stats:

Werder Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Friedl – Vogt (Bartels 85'), Bargfrede (J. Eggestein 54’) – Bittencourt (Sargent 71’), M. Eggestein, Rashica (Osako 85’) – Selke (Woltemade 71’)

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tapsoba, S. Bender, Sinkgraven – Aránguiz, Demirbay (Paulinho 85’) – Wirtz (Bellarabi 62’), Amiri (Baumgartlinger 71’), Diaby (Bailey 62’) – Havertz (Alario 85’)

Goals: 0-1 Havertz (28’), 1-1 Gebre Selassie (30’), 1-2 Havertz (33’), 1-3 Weiser (61’), 1-4 Demirbay (78’)

Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)

Booked: Moisander, Friedl – S. Bender