The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger opts for the headline, 'Leverkusen's great night in Leipzig.' The article reads: "As the result of a possible boycott by the fans, the Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich feared an atmosphere 'akin to a friendly.' However, it turned out to be more about the clash of two teams next to each other in the table whose success this season will be judged by whether or not they have qualified for the Champions League. After the game in Leipzig, it appears more likely Leverkusen will experience a positive outcome to the current campaign. At the end of an extremely entertaining night of football, a brilliant Leverkusen side clocked up a 4-1 win that moves the Werkself above Eintracht Frankfurt and Leipzig into fourth place. The opening goal from Sabitzer on 17 minutes with cancelled out by Kai Havertz (45') before the break. After the restart, Brandt (51'), Retsos (56') and Volland (69') ensured a great night for the Werkself and the first-ever win against RB Leipzig the Leverkusen. "I found it very difficult to get into the game but then I picked it up. We all continued to improve throughout the game. Matches like that are fun. We deserved to win today,' said Julian Brandt who produced an outstanding performance with Germany coach Joachim Löw looking on from the stands."
The Kölnische Rundschau headline reads 'Brandt and Bayer on fire' and reports: "At the end of matchday 29, Leverkusen climbed up to fourth in the table. Leipzig, who will be battling Olympique Marseille on Thursday for a semi-final place in the Europa League, are now behind Frankfurt in sixth place. Of the leading group of the six best teams, Leverkusen are the first side to come away with a win at Leipzig – and what a win it was! And that, despite the Leipzig supporters really getting behind their team from the start as they created a brilliant atmosphere in the fourth of the controversial Monday matches. The RB pros struggled to get into the game against an impressive Leverkusen team who wanted to get back to winning ways following the embarrassing 2-0 defeat against FC Köln and the goalless draw against Augsburg."
'Herrlich's boy band blow Leipzig away' was the headline in the Bild Zeitung. The article reads: "A lot of fans moan about the unpopular Monday games. But anyone who loves football should have seen this smash hit. Leverkusen won 4-1 in Leipzig to pick up three important points in the race for a Champions League finish. Leverkusen's boy band of Julian Brandt (21), Kai Havertz (18), and Panagiotis Retsos (19) blew Leipzig away. Leverkusen's young stars were clinical. Germany coach Jogi Löw was in the stands watching Julian Brandt (BILD top mark 1) and he can continue to hope for a berth in the World Cup squad after this gala performance."
And the report in the Express also focuses on Germany player Brandt: 'Brandt stands out in Bayer jamboree.' The report reads: "Definitely no worries about a drought up front. After two games without a goal in succession, the Werkself hit back impressively. After going behind to an Austrian blockbuster scored by Leipzig's Sabitzer, the Leverkusen attack started to shine. It all started just before half-time when Havertz finished off a perfect counter-attack with an impressive volley. That was Leverkusen's ninth goal scored on the break – the highest number in the league. After the break, the Bulls were well and truly filleted. Led by the outstanding Julian Brandt, the Bayer Express kept rolling through the Leipzig defence. Spurred on by his contract extension to 2021, the Germany international was involved in goals two to four. He scored to make it 2-1, took the free kick leading to the first Bundesliga goal for the Greek youngster Panos Retsos and provided an inch-perfect cross for the 50th Bundesliga goal scored by Kevin Volland."
The Kicker was short and sweet in its analysis: "Bayer upped their game after the break in a highly entertaining match."
