Kasper Hjulmand made one change to the team that started last week’s 3-1 loss at VfB Stuttgart as Malik Tillman came in for the injured Christian Kofane. The Werkself knew they needed to win to have a chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League but also needed results elsewhere to go their way.
Leverkusen reached 70 percent possession at times in the opening stages as they pushed HSV back, with the first chances falling to Schick and Ibrahim Maza. Nicolas Capaldo came closest for the visitors when he struck the woodwork with a header. The best opportunity came when Schick was taken down in the box by Jordan Torunarigha, but the Czech striker saw his spot-kick saved by Sander Tangvik. A Tillman header on the stroke of half-time failed to break the deadlock.
Maza struck the side netting and fired over after the restart. Mark Flekken then made a good stop against Vieira but couldn’t do anything to prevent the Portuguese midfielder curling in the opening goal shortly after. Bayer 04 created further chances in search of an equaliser. It finally came 11 minutes from time when Aleix Garcia’s free-kick was met by Quansah and deflected off Capaldo, but there would be no winner in the final home game of the season.
Several Werkself players will be in action at this summer’s World Cup in North America, featuring 48 teams from 11 June to 19 July. Bayer 04’s first confirmed friendly of pre-season is on 25 July against Kickers Offenbach, followed by a training camp from 1 to 7 August in Blankenhain.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Flekken - Quansah, Andrich (Ben Seghir 62'), Tapsoba - Culbreath (Arthur 62'), Palacios, Garcia (Vázquez 84'), Grimaldo - Tillman (Hofmann 62'), Maza - Schick
HSV: Tangvik - Omari (Nandja 77'), Vuskovic, Torunarigha (Mikelbrencis 89') - Capaldo, Remberg, Lokonga, Grønbæk - Vieira (Baldé 77') - Philippe (Muheim 62'), Stange (Poulsen 77')
Goals: 0-1 Vieira (61'), 1-1 Quansah (79')
Yellow cards: Arthur - Torunarigha, Capaldo
Referee: Tobias Stieler
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
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