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
The new eSports season is just around the corner. The VBL Club Championship by WOW starts on Thursday 15 October (from 18:00 CEST). And, as every year, here’s an overview: What changes are there? What is staying the same?
Show more
Bayer 04 record-appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn invites you to another evening in the popular ‘Rudi lädt ein’ series: on Tuesday 10 November, in collaboration with Bayer AG, the focus will be on the Nazi period. The focus will be on football, Bayer 04 and the city of Leverkusen.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has secured a new network partner in Extreme Networks GmbH. The leading provider of AI-powered network automation has agreed a five-year partnership with the Bundesliga club, running until 30 June 2031. As part of this, the club’s existing Wi-Fi 5 infrastructure will be replaced by more than 400 Wi-Fi 7 access points, which are specifically designed to meet the requirements of a stadium with a high user density. The aim is to enhance the fan experience while optimising operational processes and security.
Show more
New signing Miguel Gutiérrez has made a good start at Leverkusen and has promptly earned a nomination for Player of the Month in his first few weeks in the Bundesliga. He has scored one goal and provided three assists in four league games. The Spanish left-back has also brought some impressive stats with him to Bayer 04. Issue #56 of the Werkself magazine has taken a look at these figures. ‘Facts & Fun’ with Miguel Gutiérrez.
Show more
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
