Impressive 2-0 win for the Werkself against Stuttgart

Xabi Alonso again opted for a 3-4-3 line-up with three players coming into the team: Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie started in defence again but there were changes in midfield: Kerem Demirbay came in for Robert Andrich and the Spanish coach chose to play Amine Adli and Nadiem Amiri in place of Adam Hlozek und Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 30,210 spectators in the full house at the BayArena saw a fast game from the start. Both teams primarily looked to have as much possession as possible with the action mainly happening in midfield. Neither side were able to find the decisive pass.

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts on ten minutes: After a one-two with Moussa Diaby, Jeremie Frimpong raced down the right flank and whipped in a cross to the far post for Adli but the Stuttgart defence was able to put the Frenchman off.

diaby puts werkself 1-0 up

Jonathan Tah and Co. were solid in defence and gave nothing away. And the Werkself gradually edged forwards towards the opposition box. An attack on 27 minutes saw the ball end up with Diaby. The Frenchman tried his luck from a tight angle on the right with a shot to the top left corner but the VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller was able to make the save. Two minutes later, teammate Adli just missed out following a corner from Demirbay with a shot from twelve yards out.

The attacking approach from the Black and Reds was rewarded on the half-hour mark: Diaby made a solo run in the Stuttgart half from the halfway line, cut inside and shot with his left foot. The strike was deflected by Waldemar Anton leaving keeper Müller with no chance of making a save and the ball ended up in the back of the net to give Bayer 04 the lead at 1-0. Demirbay had a chance to make it 2-0 one minute before the end of the first 45 with a free kick from 20 yards out. However his effort hit the side netting. The Werkself took the one-goal advantage into the half-time break.

Tap-in from tah to double the lead

Leverkusen continued in the same vein after the restart with the once again impressive Frimpong (48', 49', 52') posing a threat to the opposition goal. The Dutchman, who was named in the Netherlands World Cup squad the day before, was involved again on 63 minutes: This time a diagonal pass from substitute Hlozek found Diaby. The latter raced forwards and saw Frimpong in the middle but his volley hit the bar.

Again and again it was Frimpong and Diaby: The attacking duo were able to cause trouble for the VfB defence on 77 minutes. Diaby played a high ball to Frimpong at the far post and he slotted away but the strike was ruled offside. However, it did not take long for the lead to be doubled.

With eight minutes to play, Exequiel Palacios headed on a corner from Demirbay to find Tah at the far post in the right spot. The defender just had to stick out his foot to make it 2-0.

#Bayer04USATour and friendly in Glasgow

The Werkself set off on the #Bayer04USATour tomorrow Sunday 13 November. The Black and Reds will play a friendly in the Missouri city of St Louis against the newly formed team in the Major League soccer (MLS), St Louis CITY Soccer Club. The match will also be the opening event at the new CITYPARK Stadium (kick-off: 16 November, 19.00 local time/02.00 CET, 17 November). During the stay there are also events planned with Bayer AG employees as well as involvement in community projects and cultural activities.

Then, after a two-week break, Lukas Hradecky and Co. will start the first part of the winter preparations. Leverkusen have a first friendly against Rangers at Ibrox on 10 December (kick-off: 13.00 GMT, 14.00 CET)..

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 90'), Palacios, Demirbay (Azhil 90'), Bakker – Diaby (Bellarabi 86’), Amiri (Sinkgraven 86’), Adli (Hlozek 59’)

VfB Stuttgart: Müller – Vagnoman (Coulibaly 66’), Anton, Zagadou, Ito – Millot (Ulrich 84’), Karazor, Ahmada – Tomas (Pfeiffer 66’), Guirassy, Führich (Perea 84’)

Goals: 1-0 Diaby (30’), 2-0 Tah (82’)

Booked: Amiri – Zagadou, Führich, Tomas

Referee: Florian Badstübner (Windsbach)

Attendance: 30,210 (sell-out) at the BayArena