Xabi Alonso made three changes to the team that started Tuesday’s 1-0 win over AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League as Robert Andrich, Exequiel Palacios – making his first start of the season – and Jonas Hofmann came in for Piero Hincapie, Aleix Garcia and Amine Adli, who all dropped to the bench.
Sporting special-edition kits to mark the club’s 120th anniversary, Leverkusen raced out of the blocks at the BayArena as Boniface slotted home from the left after Exequiel Palacios’s flick into his path with only four minutes gone. Goalkeeper Timon Weiner then prevented a second from the Nigerian striker with a diving save barely 120 seconds later. But there was nothing the Kiel keeper could do when Palacios, who turned 26 today, then slipped in Hofmann, who found the far bottom corner with only eight minutes played. The Bundesliga champions were very much in control, with Alejandro Grimaldo and Andrich both having further opportunities, while Boniface also saw a third goal ruled out for offside on review. However, the promoted visitors made one of their very few first-half attacks count when Max Geschwill headed in a Lewis Holtby corner five minutes into added time.
The Werkself went looking for that third goal to restore their cushion after the break and had a few chances without making them count. Then with 70 minutes gone, Jermie Frimpong upended Armin Gigovic in the box to give Holstein a penalty, which Fiete Arp dispatched to level the game. Lukas Hradecky prevented a complete Kiel turnaround minutes later with a good save from a Benedikt Pichler header. The closing minutes were then all Leverkusen as they sought to reclaim the lead on the two-year anniversary of Alonso taking charge and in his 100th game at the helm, but for once there was to be no late goal for the Spaniard’s side.
Several Leverkusen players will now go off and join their national teams. After the international break, Bayer 04 resume with another home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, 19 October (3.30pm CEST).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tah, Andrich (Hincapie 70'), Tapsoba - Frimpong (Adli 77'), Xhaka, Palacios (Garcia 70'), Grimaldo - Hofmann (Terrier 60'), Wirtz - Boniface (Schick 70')
Holstein Kiel: Weiner - Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill - Becker, Holtby (Remberg 85'), Knudsen, Gigovic (Schulz 70'), Porath (Komenda 85') - Skrzybski (Pichler 46'), Machino (Arp 46')
Goals: 1-0 Boniface (4'), 2-0 Hofmann (8'), 2-1 Geschwill (45'+5), 2-2 Arp (pen, 70')
Yellow cards: Frimpong, Tah - Knudsen, Weiner
Referee: Robert Hartmann
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
Show more
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
Show more
