Kasper Hjulmand made five changes to the team that started last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Loïc Badé came in for Robert Andrich in central defence, while Lucas Vázquez started on the right wing for Arthur. Exequiel Palacios, Ibrahim Maza and Poku got the nod over Ezequiel Fernández, Jonas Hofmann and Malik Tillman.
The Werkself were lively from the start on Carnival weekend. Vázquez missed the target in the early minutes, but Quansah made the breakthrough as he met a Poku cross with the help of the crossbar and goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj’s back. Barely a minute later it was 2-0 as Schick got on the end of Vázquez’s cross to the far post with his head. Hjulmand’s men controlled proceedings up to half-time, with another Schick header after the half-hour mark the closest to another goal.
Leverkusen did get that third goal shortly after the restart with yet another header, this time from Tapsoba. The Werkself were able to move the ball around inside the St. Pauli half after that. Although no more notable headed opportunities followed, Poku did add a fourth as he fired in from just outside the box with 12 minutes to go on a cold afternoon at the BayArena, where Bayer 04 got their fourth straight win and also fourth clean sheet of 2026.
The Werkself are back in UEFA Champions League action on Wednesday as they head to Piraeus in Greece for the first leg of their knockout play-off against Olympiacos (21:00 CET). They then face an away trip to the capital the following Saturday to take on Union Berlin in the Bundesliga (15:30).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Blaswich - Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba - Vázquez (Arthur 59'), Palacios (Terrier 80'), Garcia, Grimaldo (Hofmann 72') - Maza (Tillman 46'), Poku - Schick (Kofane 59')
St. Pauli: Vasilj - Dzwigala, Ando, Mets - Saliakas (Ritzka 82'), Sands (Fujita 68'), Irvine (Hara 68'), Pyrka -Sinani, Rasmussen - Kaars (Ceesay 82')
Goals: 1-0 Quansah (13'), 2-0 Schick (14'), 3-0 Tapsoba (52'), 4-0 Poku (78')
Yellow cards: Mets
Referee: Sven Jablonski
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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