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 have transferred U19 midfielder Emmanuel Chigozie Owen to FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended youngster Montrell Culbreath's contract once again. Having only signed a deal with the Bundesliga club until 30 June 2030 in January, still as an U19 player, the attacking midfielder, who's since established himself in the first-team squad, has penned a new contract valid until 30 June 2031. Culbreath joined the Werkself academy in 2023 and made 16 first-team appearances in the 2025/26 season in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League, scoring one goal.
Show more
Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who moved to Arsenal FC on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the 2025/26 season, will join the English champions permanently on 1 July 2026.
Show more
The date and kick-off time for Bayer 04’s match in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal have been confirmed. The Werkself face SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Saturday afternoon, 22 August, at 13:00 CEST. The German Football Association (DFB) announced this today, Wednesday. The Pokal tie against the Hessen state cup winners will be played at the BRITA Arena. Ticket information to follow at a later date.
Show more
