#RBLB04 review: A force on the road

Summary: Werkself impress with tempo and exuberance

Bayer 04 started the game well and did not give away any big chances to the hosts in the opening stages. The Seoane team impressed in attack with tempo and exuberance. As on 21 minutes: Exequiel Palacios picked out Florian Wirtz, who first shook off Angelino in the penalty area and then fired the ball into the net from seven yards out for the opening goal. The Werkself deserved the lead in what was a really good away performance. Jonathan Tah chipped the ball behind the RB defence for Moussa Diaby to slot the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with his second touch (34').

André Silva pulled a goal back for the hosts in the second half (62') but Jeremie Frimpong provided the right response 127 seconds later with a strike to make it 3-1 (64'). RBL had a great chance to score near the end: Edmond Tapsoba touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area. After the intervention of VAR, referee Benjamin Cortus awarded a penalty. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up but was denied by Lukas Hradecky and the inside of the post (88'). The scoreline remained 3-1. The Werkself are third in the table after 13 matches. The full match report is HERE.

Reaction: "I hope we can carry on to Christmas"

"The morale was great and it was a very controlled performance to a great extent," said Lukas Hradecky following the match and added: "I'm happy with one another top match again. There was a really fine win today. I hope we can carry on to Christmas." Defender Jonathan Tah declared the victory to be "another small step forward that gives us lots of confidence." Florian Wirtz stressed it was important not to concede early on and to have scored twice before the break. "That was good for our game because we were able to play with confidence after that," explained the score of the first goal.

Head coach Gerardo Seoane classified the victory at a rival for a Champions League finish as follows: "That was," he said, "a very good performance by us overall. We defended and transitioned well, were good in pressing and possession. We had one or two big chances, were more of a threat and therefore we deserved to win."

Personnel: Frimpong nets first goal – Schick clocks up 50

After Amine Adli scored his first Bundesliga goal on the previous matchday against VfL Bochum (1-0), his teammate Jeremie Frimpong celebrated his first goal in Germany's top flight – the Dutchman made it 3-1 on 64 minutes. "Jeremie is a likeable lad with huge potential," said his coach at the post-match press conference. "He's put in loads of effort in recent matches, he makes a lot of crosses and has emerged as a provider several times. That's why we are particularly happy for him – especially as the goal was crucial in the closing stages."

While one player was celebrating his first Bundesliga goal, another celebrated 50 appearances for the Werkself. That is Patrik Schick. The Czech Republic striker, who suffered an ankle ligament injury on matchday nine in the derby away to FC Köln (2-2), was back on the pitch for the first time since his injury. "Both Patrik Schick and Lucas Alario, who also played, gave us the opportunity to beat the press. They can hold on to the ball given their strength," said Seoane in praise of the 25-year-old and his Argentinian teammate. Charles Aránguiz also celebrated his comeback on 62 minutes when he replaced Amine Adli.

Stats: Strongest away team in the league

This season, Bayer 04 can maintain they really are not good visitors from a sporting perspective. The reason: The Werkself remain unbeaten thanks to the three points at RB Leipzig. Lukas Hradecky and Co. clocked up their fourth win in seven Bundesliga away games (three draws) in Leipzig. That means the Leverkusen players are the strongest away team in Germany's top flight.

It is also possible to speak of a nearly perfect November from a Black and Red perspective. Excluding the 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin, the Seoane team have won one all matches this month. Here are the November results at a glance: 4-0 against Real Betis, 1-1 at Hertha, 1-0 against Bochum, 3-2 against Celtic, 3-1 at Leipzig – an impressive haul.

What the papers say: Away win with Palacios "at the helm"

There was also praise for the performance at RB in the press: "Bayer dominate against Leipzig," is the headline in the Rheinische Post, which names Moussa Diaby as the best Leverkusen player. "The scorer of the winning goal in the Celtic match and an impressive game against the Saxons," reports the journal.

The Kicker analyses the impressive transition play from the Werkself and talks about a deserved victory for the Black and Reds. "Leverkusen were again and again able to free themselves from the indecisive pressing by Leipzig and were able to create significantly more chances with their accurate passing game," said the football journal that also highlights the role of Exequiel Palacios "as the helmsman": "He set up the opening goal, determined the tempo and rhythm and often read the game well."

Outlook: Breather ahead of next games

The Werkself players now have the chance to get a breather. Kerem Demirbay and Co. are back in action in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 4 December (kick-off: 15.30 CET) with a home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. After that, it is one game after the next: Just five days later (9 December), Bayer 04 are away to Ferencváros in the sixth and final Europa League group match, followed on Sunday, 12 December, by a league away game at Eintracht Frankfurt.