Xabi Alonso made three changes to the side that started Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League defeat at Liverpool as Robert Andrich and Jonas Hofmann came in for midfielders Exequiel Palacios and Aleix Garcia, while Schick got the nod over Victor Boniface up front. Bochum were playing their first game under new head coach Dieter Hecking and got stuck in from the start. The Werkself soon began to exert some control with possession, as the hosts sat back looking to counter from a solid base.
Bochum managed to keep the Werkself at bay for the first quarter of an hour before Hofmann’s quick free-kick from the halfway line to Florian Wirtz, who slipped in Schick running in behind up the inside left to finish beyond Patrick Drewes with the help of the inside of the far post. It turned into more of a one-sided affair after that, but the hosts stood firm and also started to create a few chances in transition. Bayer 04 maintained over 75 percent possession for much of the first half and very nearly had a second just after the half-hour mark, but Jeremie Frimpong’s finish from a Schick pass was saved by Drewes.
Alonso’s men continued to get forward after the break, with Alejandro Grimaldo and Schick having the first opportunities inside the first few minutes. But Bochum had some themselves and started to grow into the game in the second half. Lukas Hradecky and his defence were kept busy at times and also struggled to create much at the other end.
Nathan Tella was introduced for Hofmann on the hour to add some fresh impetus. Bochum also made changes, but it was Leverkusen who had the ball in the net next when Frimpong finished from Wirtz, but the latter was flagged offside in the build-up. As the game edged towards the end, the Werkself were still looking to put it to bed while Bochum grew in confidence. That finally paid off for the Bundesliga’s bottom side when Miyoshi slotted in an equaliser with 90 minutes on the clock.
It’s now the final international break of the year. Leverkusen return to action in a fortnight with a home game against Heidenheim on Saturday, 23 November (3.30pm CET) before a Champions League encounter with Red Bull Salzburg at the BayArena on Wednesday, 26 November (9pm).
Match stats:
Bochum: Drewes - Passlack (De Wit 78'), Oermann, Medic, Wittek - Sissoko, Losilla (Daschner 69') - Broschinski (Miyoshi 69'), Bero, Holtmann (Gamboa 69') - Hofmann
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong (Garcia 87'), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Tella 63'), Wirtz - Schick (Boniface 77')
Goals: 0-1 Schick (18'), 1-1 Miyoshi (90')
Yellow cards: Schick
Referee: Robert Hartmann
Attendance: 26,000 (sold out) at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion
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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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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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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