Head coach Xabi Alonso made six changes to his starting XI compared with the 1-0 home win against Mainz 05 in the week and that included the return of the keeper Lukas Hradecky and key defender Jonathan Tah. Martin Terrier also started but, shortly after providing an impressive cross to Patrik Schick on five minutes, the Frenchman had to be substituted due to injury (8'). He was replaced by Piero Hincapie.
The visitors from the Lower Rhine were well organised in defence and made it difficult for the Werkself to break into their penalty area. Robert Andrich tried a long-range effort on 20 minutes and Schick a header from a cross five minutes later. It was just after the half-hour mark that Arthur won the ball and Granit Xhaka played a through ball for Florian Wirtz to leave Ko Itakura standing before slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to open the scoring (32'). 1-0 was the score at half-time.
The first chance after the restart fell to Alejandro Grimaldo in a counter-attack but the BMG keeper Moritz Nicolas was able to make the save (55'). Five minutes later, Grimaldo tried to cross but the ball hit the hand of Julian Weigl in the penalty area and referee Harm Osmers pointed to the spot. Wirtz calmly converted the penalty to seal his brace and make it 2-0 (62’). The Werkself then eased off somewhat and focused on isolated attacks – as on 75 minutes. Hincapie played a great long ball to Wirtz. The latter flicked the ball on to Schick leaving the Czech with a tap-in to make it 3-0 with his twelfth goal of the season. In the closing stages, Jonas Hofmann came off the bench to make his first appearance in the new year and Tim Kleindienst netted a consolation goal for the visitors at 3-1 (90+1'). The final whistle came shortly after that and the Werkself celebrated an eleventh win in succession with their fans.
Bayer 04 are next in action in the Champions League. The Werkself are away to top Spanish side Atletico Madrid on Matchday 7 in the league phase. The match on Tuesday, 21 January, kicks off at 21.00 CET. That is followed by another top game on the road four days later, this time in the Bundesliga, away to RB Leipzig.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Arthur, Tah, Tapsoba - Tella (Frimpong 63'), Xhaka (Palacios 81'), Andrich, Grimaldo (Garcia 81') - Wirtz (Hofmann 81'), Terrier (Hincapie 8’) - Schick
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Nicolas - Lainer, Itakura, Elvedi, Ullrich (Netz 75') - Reitz (Chiarodia 81’), Weigl, Sander (Fukuda 87’) - Cvancara (Plea 75'), Kleindienst, Hack (Stöger 75')
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (32’), 2-0 Wirtz (62’ pen.), 3-0 Schick (74’), 3-1 Kleindienst (90+1’)
Yellow cards: Cvancara, Lainer
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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As well as internal changes and familiar faces, Bayer 04 are also looking to bring fresh impetus to the coaching staff of the senior youth squads for the 2026/27 campaign. Here is an overview of the U19, U17 and U16 teams.
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Bayer 04 have signed 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The Germany U17 international is joining the Werkself from the Berlin Bundesliga 2 club on a long-term contract. Eichhorn made 19 appearances for the Hertha Berlin first team last season, scoring two goals.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Kennet Eichhorn. Bayer 04 have signed the 16-year-old midfielder from Hertha Berlin. Read on to find out more about our new signing.
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