Werkself end Schalke run with 3-0 win

Bayer 04 head coach Xabi Alonso made just one change to his starting eleven compared with the 2-1 win against FC Bayern. Jonathan Tah came into the starting line-up in place of Kerem Demirbay in his usual position in central defence, Robert Andrich, in the back three against Bayern Munich, returned to a holding midfield role. In addition to the continuing absence of Charles Aránguiz, Patrik Schick and Nadiem Amiri, the Werkself at the Veltins Arena also had to manage without Adam Hlozek as the Czech striker dropped out late on due to illness. As in the game against Bayern, Xabi Alonso played Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli up front with Florian Wirtz playing in a free role behind the front two.

Schalke started the game with aggression and commitment as to be expected from a team in a relegation battle after a run of eight games unbeaten in the Rückrunde. Marius Bülter instigated a dangerous attack down the left on two minutes but a resulting free kick from Rodrigo Zalazar was comfortably saved by Lukas Hradecky. The Werkself tried to counter the pressure from the hosts by being strong in possession – and with quick transition play: After some fine work from Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, Adli had a shot on the turn but Ralf Fährmann made an impressive save and recovered quickly to deny Frimpong from the rebound (10'). A long-range effort from Andrich presented the Schalke keeper with much less of a problem (15'). Andrich tried again shortly after that but Fährmann was again in the right spot (19').

period of pressure goes unrewarded

The Leverkusen players had a strong phase of possession after 20 minutes – and another goalscoring opportunity fell to Adli: Wirtz put him through brilliantly but the Frenchman was denied by Fährmann (26') who then saved a shot from Frimpong with his shoulder (28') – Bayer 04 were now clearly on top. Edmond Tapsoba set Adli up brilliantly but in a promising position he opted for a square ball into the middle instead of aiming for goal (33'). Schalke fought with passion and conviction but only posed a threat in attack from set-pieces. The score at half-time was 0-0.

Frimpong and Wirtz beat Fährmann

The first chance in the second half fell to the hosts but Hradecky pulled off a brilliant save to deny Michael Frey (49'). But then the Werkself struck. Frimpong was first kept out in a one-on-one with Fährmann but his following effort ended up in the back of the net: Tapsoba cut through the Schalke defence with a sensational pass to Diaby and his square ball was converted by Frimpong for his eighth goal of the season to give Leverkusen the lead at 1-0 (50'). And Bayer 04 doubled their tally ten minutes later: Wirtz played a one-two with Adli on the edge of the box, then beat two Schalke defenders and clinically slotted the ball past Fährmann into the back of the net to make it 2-0 (61').

Bayer 04 made two substitutions with Sardar Azmoun and Kerem Demirbay coming on in place of Adli and Exequiel Palacios (66'). The Werkself were in control of the game but were fortunate when Maya Yoshida just failed to pull a goal back from a Zalazar free kick (77’). At the other end, Diaby missed the chance to put Leverkusen 3-0 up (78’) and shortly after that he hit the bar when Henning Matriciani deflected a shot (80'). Leverkusen then used the full complement of substitutions: Mitchel Bakker, Daley Sinkgraven and Callum Hudson-Odoi came on for Piero Hincapie, the injured Demirbay and Frimpong (83’). Azmoun rounded off the scoring in added time with a powerful header to make it 3-0 (90+2').

at home against Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayer 04 are at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Bundesliga matchday 27 on Saturday 8 April. The kick off at the BayArena is at 15.30 CEST.

Match stats:

Schalke 04: Fährmann – Brunner, Yoshida, Greiml, Matriciani – Kral, Krauß (Skarke 71') – Drexler (Balanta 46'), Zalazar (Mohr 83'), Bülter – Frey (Terodde 61')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong (Hudson-Odoi 83'), Andrich, Palacios (Demirbay 66'/Sinkgraven 83’), Hincapie (Bakker 83’) – Wirtz – Diaby, Adli (Azmoun 66’)

Goals: 0-1 Frimpong (50’), 0-2 Wirtz (61’), 0-3 Azmoun (90+2’)

Booked: Matriciani, Balanta – Palacios

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Attendance: 62,271 (sold out) at the Veltins Arena