Head coach Xabi Alonso made two changes to his team that started last week’s 3-0 at home to Bayern Munich. Frimpong and Patrik Schick were restored to the side in place of Edmond Tapsoba and Nathan Tella. Africa Cup of Nations winner Odilon Kossounou was among the subs for the first time this year, while Piero Hincapie made his 100th appearance for Bayer 04.
Leverkusen had the first attempt of the game at the Voith-Arena as Wirtz tested Kevin Müller before the visitors began to dominate play. Frimpong came close not long after but narrowly missed an Alejandro Grimaldo cross from the left.
The hosts were quick to close down space but had trouble picking up Wirtz, who dribbled past three red shirts on the touchline before seeing his attempted cutback intercepted. Wirtz then played in Schick, but he was crowded out by two Heidenheim defenders as he tried to burst into the penalty area. Kleindienst had the promoted side’s first shot of the afternoon after 36 minutes. With the game looking like being goalless at the break, Frimpong then popped up at the first post two minutes into added time to turn in Adli’s cross for the lead and his seventh goal of the campaign.
The Werkself continued on the front foot after the restart. Frimpong was again busy in attack and smashed an effort just over the bar from 20 yards. It was past the hour mark when Lukas Hradecky was called into action to deny Nikola Dovedan. Frimpong then came even closer to a second but flashed his shot only inches wide of the far post on the angle. Heidenheim started to find their groove and Hradecky was again forced to save from Benedikt Gimber. Borja Iglesias came on for Schick, but once more it was Frimpong involved up front. This time the Dutchman put a Grimaldo delivery into the stands.
Wirtz than rattled the Heidenheim crossbar with a thunderous effort after a one-two with Iglesias. But the second goal did finally come on 81 minutes when Wirtz slipped through Adli, who rounded Müller to make it 2-0. It wasn’t over there, though, as Kleindienst got one back with a header three minutes before the end. However, the Werkself saw out the game to move eight points clear at the top, at least overnight, and make it 32 matches unbeaten in 2023/24.
Bayer 04 are next in action on Friday, 23 February when Mainz visit the BayArena in the Bundesliga.
Match stats:
Heidenheim: Müller – Traoré, Mainka, Gimber (Pieringer 82'), Föhrenbach – Maloney, Schöppner (Sessa 63') – Dinkci (Busch 76'), Beck (Dovedan 46'), Beste (Pick 76') – Kleindienst
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong (Tapsoba 89'), Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo – Adli (Tella 89'), Schick (Iglesias 74'), Wirtz (Hofmann 89')
Goals: 0-1 Frimpong (45'+2), 0-2 Adli (81'), 1-2 Kleindienst (87')
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hanover)
Yellow cards: Föhrenbach, Gimber – Andrich
Attendance: 15,000 at the Voith-Arena (sold out)
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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