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
Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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Video games developer Electronic Arts (EA), in collaboration with the Bundesliga, has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga ‘Player of the Month’ award for September – Bayer 04’s Miguel Gutiérrez has made it into this select group after just four Bundesliga matches. Fans of the Black and Reds can vote from now until Sunday 27 September (23:59 CEST).
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Calling Bayer 04 fans: The 2026/27 campaign will really pick up pace after the international break – and if you want to get your hands on a very special Black and Red souvenir in time, now is your chance. Jerseys signed by Werkself players such as Patrik Schick and Edmond Tapsoba are now available via the web shop. It’s worth being quick, as the offer is valid only whilst stocks last.
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