#DSCB04 review: Bayer 04 ‘impress with tempo and ability’

summary: great moves for away win

The Werkself won away 4-0 for the second time in three days. At the Bielefeld Alm stadium, Bayer 04 were very free-flowing: The opening goal from Moussa Diaby was preceded by a fine move involving several players (18'), the second goal from Patrik Schick came from a great through ball from Florian Wirtz (24'). And the third goal from the Czech Werkself striker was brilliantly executed and the pinpoint cross from Jeremie Frimpong at full pace was particularly impressive (57'). By the latest with that goal, the Werkself broke the spirit of the brave Bielefeld side who had an equaliser ruled out by VAR (19'). As in Glasgow, Bayer 04 rounded off the scoring in Bielefeld in added time with Kerem Demirbay scoring from the penalty spot (90+2'). The match report is HERE.

reaction: "depth of squad helped us"

"We have a very dominant way of playing football," declared Kerem Demirbay. "But if one thing sticks out then it's the team spirit and togetherness from 1 to 20. I get to hear it if there's challenge on the pitch and then they are celebrations and it gives you a boost." And skipper Lukas Hradecky explained: "We’ve grown closer together in the dressing room. Now we have to keep our feet on the ground as it's not always possible to win by so many." Our keeper did enjoy the moment of the second 4-0 win in succession: "You have to be proud. At the moment it's great fun playing for Bayer 04."

Coach Gerardo Seoane paid a compliment to his team that "was very much in the game from the start and played with great ambition. We created lots of situations and had lots of chances to score goals." In particular, he also praised players who did not start the game. "Compliments to the substitutes," said Seoane. "The depth of the squad helped us a lot today.

Personnel: top marks for Schick

First goal on Thursday, first Bundesliga start on Sunday: Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli are currently reaching personal milestones one after the next. The two new signings were on the start for the first time in the Bundesliga – and they also knew how to impress without goals. It was clear to see Hincapie has coped well with the move from South America to one of the top leagues in Europe in the unusual position of left-back, Adli was involved in setting up two of the four Werkself goals.

Centre forward Patrik Schick also stood out as a finisher. He scored two goals himself and set up the opener from Moussa Diaby. The three involvements in a goal brought Schick top marks in the kicker sports journal. He has increased his goal tally in the current Bundesliga campaign to six. Ahead of him are only Dortmund’s Erling Haaland and Bayern's Robert Lewandowski with seven each. And the Werkself fans also voted the number 14 as Man of the Match on the new Bayer 04 app – with 54% of all votes (Jeremie Frimpong: 27%, Florian Wirtz: 16%).

stats: Werkself outperform bielefeld in all areas

The superiority of Bayer 04 on Sunday night was not just reflected in the final result. The Werkself clocked up 66% possession in a dominant performance and were also superior to Bielefeld in core ability and 55% of challenges were won. In spite of rain and a fiery atmosphere our team achieved a pass completion rate of 87% – an outstanding number and clearly superior to the hosts (75%). Also 18 shots on goal to 10 in favour of Bayer 04 also says a lot.

what the papers say : "fast, no frills, great!"

"Bayer 04 storm the Alm," is the headline in the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger on Monday and their analysis says Bayer 04 have "gained efficiency and have somewhat more simplicity" under Gerardo Seoane. The kicker praises the Werkself under the headline "Bayer impress with tempo and ability" and draw the following conclusion: "a highly deserved win for a Leverkusen team superior in all areas." Patrik Schick received top marks from the sports journal – as he also did from the Rheinische Post. The Czech Republic striker, according to the paper, "scored the second goal in the style of a classic striker: good control the ball, skilfully shielding the ball with one move and then calmly tucking it away into the net at the far post."

The EXPRESS highlights a strength of Florian Wirtz. "Bundesliga record man Wirtz was involved in a goal in his sixth league match in succession by setting up Schick's first goal," writes newspaper. "The 18-year-old has now clocked up four goals and five assists this season." The BILD looks forward and writes about the impressive Werkself performance and the situation in the table: "At the Alm, Bayer 04 looked like real title contenders: fast, no-frills, great!"

outlook: big match after international break

The Werkself will be title challengers on Sunday, 17 October at 15.30 CEST for at least 90 minutes. The champions and league leaders Bayer Munich, level on points with Bayer 04, visit the BayArena in the top of the table clash. Before that there is the international break – at the wrong time given the outstanding Werkself run of recent weeks? No, says Gerardo Seoane. "We’ve had a busy rhythm over the past few weeks," explained the Werkself coach. The players will benefit from a change of air and a chance to get a break.