Season review, part two: The dream of a final and a positive conclusion

matchdays 16-34 (to end of the season)

THE WORLD CHAMPION IS BACK IN LEVERKUSEN

Still tired but happy, the Argentina player Exequiel Palacios completes the first full training session of 2023 with the Werkself on 3 January as the only World Cup winner in the Bundesliga. The midfielder is greeted by rousing applause from members of staff at the club. Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes and head coach Xabi Alonso pay tribute to the Argentinian and that's followed by selfies and autographs.

"Today has really impressed me. I'm thrilled by such a reunion and by the way I’ve been received by the club and the people here. I'm grateful to every single person at Bayer 04," said Palacios to bayer04.de. With wise foresight, he then adds: "In football everything moves on quickly. I'll try to push the experience away on one hand to focus on the day-to-day. On the other hand, I want to use the euphoria to help the club achieve its targets." He was proved to be right...

AFTER 315 DAYS: WIRTZ MAKES LEAGUE COMEBACK

As the Bundesliga restarts, Palacios and Co. want to carry on where they left off before the World Cup break – and they are successful. The Werkself prove to be clinical at Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-2). The highlight of the game: Florian Wirtz comes on as a substitute on 74 minutes to make his first appearance since March 2022 when he suffered a torn cruciate

TAPSOBA ENDS PENALTY CURSE

A few days later, the midfielder makes his first start after 318 days in the 2-0 home win against VfL Bochum and he impresses straightaway with a strong performance as well as an assist for the goal scored by Adam Hlozek. Before that, Edmond Tapsoba ended a negative run from the penalty spot for Leverkusen with a strike under the bar: Bayer 04 had missed the previous six penalties.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT IN MONACO SPARKS TURNAROUND

A 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in spite of the courageous performance plus a 1-0 loss at FC Augsburg end a run of five wins on the bounce for the Werkself. Undismayed, the Black and Reds clock up the next important points for the race up the league with a 3-1 win against TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 20.

The Alonso team then entertain AS Monaco in confident mood in the middle of February for the first leg of the play-off for the knockout rounds in the Europa League. Wirtz, in outstanding form after his comeback, secures a 2-1 lead against the side from Monaco. However, the Werkself lose 3-2 with two late goals from the visitors.

The Black and Reds then suffer defeat in the league against Mainz 05 (2-3). An emotional 5-3 win on penalties in the second leg in Monaco brings about a turn around in form. And what a game it was: A high intensity encounter ends on 90 minutes with the scoreboard showing Bayer 04 3-2 up. The 3-2 defeat in the first leg takes the match to extra time where neither side are able to break the deadlock. Players and spectators need nerves of steel for what follows: Although penalties have proved to be a weak point in the past, all five Leverkusen players coolly convert their spot kicks (Sardar Azmoun, Nadiem Amiri, Tapsoba, Patrik Schick and Moussa Diaby). Monaco’s Eliot Matazo only hits the bar. And that means the Bayer 04 journey on the European stage continues. That important win changed a lot.

A PERFECT MARCH - THROUGH TO LAST EIGHT AGAINST FERENCVAROS

The Werkself then play with freedom and collect points in the league week after week. From Monaco, the Werkself travel straight to the Breisgau where goalscorer Azmoun and his teammates secure a 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg. One interesting point: In the match against SCF, Alonso decides to play midfielder Robert Andrich in the back three for the first time. A tactical twist that is used again in the future.

In spite of a crowded fixture list, a 4-1 win against Hertha Berlin marks the start of a perfect March. On home turf at the BayArena, the Black and Reds beat Ferencváros 2-0 in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie. Back in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen demonstrate their absolute desire to win against Werder Bremen with a 3-2 victory after going 1-0 down. And again the league is followed by Europa League action. The second leg in Budapest (2-0) is just four days later. An early goal from Diaby plus one from Amine Adli near the end secure progress to the quarter-finals.

WIN AGAINST BAYERN: ADLI CURIOSITY, PALACIOS PENALTY BRACE

Bundesliga matchday 25 was no less spectacular. Record champions Bayern Munich visit the BayArena and they lead at the break despite a strong start by the Werkself. The second half produces a curious situation: Amine Adli is twice shown the yellow card for diving in the penalty area. VAR intervenes both times with referee Tobias Stieler revoking his decision twice and rightly awarding spot kicks. Exequiel Palacios steps up both times for the Werkself and converts for the equaliser at 1-1 and for the final score of 2-1. The fans celebrate at a full house at the BayArena like seldom before. The win against Bayern instils further confidence.

HISTORIC QUARTER-FINAL IN BELGIUM

In spite of a packed programme of fixtures without breaks, the Werkself do not appear tired and win the next league matches away to Schalke 04 (3-0) and at home to Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1). In the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, Bayer 04 draw 1-1 with Union Saint-Gilloise. A last-minute goal from Florian Wirtz ensures the chance of progressing to the next round. After a defensive battle in the first leg, the Werkself celebrate a goal fest in the second leg: Moussa Diaby, Mitchel Bakker, Jeremie Frimpong and Adam Hlozek find the back of the net to bring euphoria and enthusiasm to the travelling fans and secure a very deserved 4-1 win. The Werkself are in the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time in over 20 years. An historic opportunity. Alonso is enthusiastic after the match: "The energy of the team and the fans was incredible."

The Black and Reds don't ease off after going through: There is a 2-0 home win against RB Leipzig and Bayer 04 are involved in a goalless draw with Union Berlin. A shame: The run of 14 games unbeaten across competition ends with a 2-1 derby defeat against FC Köln. Nevertheless: The Werkself keep going.

A NIGHT FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

AS Roma are the opponents in the Europa League semi-final. Neither side gives anything away in the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico but rarely create danger in front of goal. The only goal of the game (0-1) is scored by Eduardo Bove. A double blow: Odilon Kossounou and Robert Andrich are both injured. The latter suffers a fractured metatarsal, Kossounou a torn thigh muscle. The Werkself go into the run-in without the duo.

On 18 May, 35 years today after the win in the second leg of the UEFA Cup final against Espanyol, there is the ultimate showdown in this second leg clash. The game at the BayArena was sold out within 90 minutes. On the day, thousands of Leverkusen fans get in the mood for the match in Opladen with live music. Final preparations are made at the stadium at the same time for a breathtaking fan choreography in the evening. With two hours to go before kick-off, a fan march to the stadium and the reception for the team bus on Bismarckstraße by countless fans creates a thrilling atmosphere.

The end is almost dramatic: The Italians are not interested in open play from the start and Bayer 04 are only able to secure a goalless draw despite being clearly dominant and having 23 shots with just one against. Nobody at the BayArena can understand what happened on the evening. The Werkself failed to score and AS Roma progress to the final of the Europa League with the 0-0 scoreline in the second leg. The dream of the final in Budapest ends for the Werkself after a long and winding road of 14 games on the European stage since the start of the season.

AFTER TWELVE YEARS: BELLARABI ENDS WERKSELF CAREER

“Karim Bellarabi – oh, oh, oh!” – The final Bundesliga home game of the 2022/23 season belongs to the longest serving Bayer 04 player Karim Bellarabi. The match against Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-2) is the last game for the 33-year-old, as it is for Ayman Azhil, Daley Sinkgraven, Andrey Lunev and Callum Hudson-Odoi, a few days after he announces the end of his career in Germany.

Twelve years at the Werkself, almost 300 games and a place in the top 15 Bayer 04 players with the most appearances. “I've been here for more than a decade, Leverkusen is like a home to me. That's why it's a really funny feeling on one hand. On the other, I'm certain I'll come back here again to watch cool games with the fans and really get behind the lads. I'm looking forward to that in the future. So for me it is not goodbye forever," said the winger.

DESPITE DEFEAT: POSITIVE CONCLUSION IN BOCHUM

The season finale on the final Bundesliga matchday away to VfL Bochum is definitely a big match for both teams: The relegation-threatened hosts are battling to stay up, the Werkself are looking to secure sixth position in the table. Following Adli's early dismissal, Bochum players Philipp Förster, Takuma Asano and Kevin Stöger score to seal a 3-0 win. Thanks to Hertha Berlin, who beat VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 end the Bundesliga season in sixth place and again secure qualification in a European competition.

Which one, will be decided on Saturday 3 June: If RB Leipzig win the DFB Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt then Bayer 04 will be in the Europa League. In the reverse case, the Werkself would be in the play-offs for the UEFA Conference League. Whatever happens a turbulent season for the Werkself has ended with a positive conclusion.

Bayer 04 says thank you for the unique season together in 2022/23. Only with you. Only for you. We will go again. For our dream.

Season review, part one: Upturn in late Autumn with Xabi Alonso