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
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.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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