Werkself lose 2-1 at home to Arminia Bielefeld

Head coach Peter Bosz opted for the same starting line-up at the BayArena as he did in last week's game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Lennart Grill was in goal for Bayer 04 for the third time in succession and two winter signings started for the Werkself in Jeremie Frimpong and Demarai Gray. Leon Bailey, who missed the clash at Borussia due to suspension, started on the bench. Good news: Florian Wirtz returned to the squad after recovering from a Covid-19 infection.

Bielefeld score with first shot on goal – Ortega denies Gray

While the match was the first away game for Arminia Bielefeld at Leverkusen in twelve years, it was the first time Sascha Stegemann had refereed a game involving the Black and Reds. And there was a great chance for the hosts in the seventh minute: Nadiem Amiri received the ball to his feet in the penalty area but his effort from twelve yards out flew wide of the target.

In a phase where the Werkself were undoubtedly on top, it was the visitors from East Westphalia who struck out of the blue. After Arminia Bielefeld failed to register a single shot on goal in the 2-1 defeat earlier in the season – a first in the Bundesliga since records have been kept – they took the lead with their first shot on goal at the BayArena. Christian Gebauer hit a low cross from the right into the middle. Ritsu Doan ran into the penalty area and just managed to beat Edmond Tapsoba to the ball – and it flew into the net of the net off the underside of the bar for the surprise opener on 17 minutes.

Arminia dropped further back and operated from the halfway line. Charles Aránguiz and co. looked to find a way through, sometimes down the flanks, sometimes through the middle via Nadiem Amiri and Kerem Demirbay. On 34 minutes, Gray crossed from the right. Patrik Schick, scorer of the winner at Borussia Mönchengladbach, headed the ball from the penalty spot but his effort went wide of the far post. Gray then came even closer himself. The new signing from Leicester City hit a volley after a flick on from Edmond Tapsoba and he caught it just right. However, the Arminia keeper Stefan Ortega again showed his quality to pull off an excellent reflex save (38'). The two sides went into half-time from time a few minutes later with the Werkself 1-0 down.

Okugawa doubles lead – Schick scores again

Head coach Bosz brought on two new players for the second half: Bailey replaced Gray on the wing and the introduction of Lucas Alario for Demirbay involved a change of formation with two strikers up front. While the Werkself went in search of the equaliser, the team under new coach Frank Kramer mounted an exemplary counter-attack: Just before the hour mark, Anderson Lucoqui received a long ball from Arne Maier. The left-back beat two Leverkusen players and passed to Masaya Okugawa. He was suddenly one-on-one with Grill – and he scored to make it 2-0 (57').

As in the first 45, most of the play was in the Bielefeld half. But there was no end product. Ortega was not troubled by shots from substitutes Wirtz (68') and Alario (69'). Aránguiz and co. were then unable to create any clear-cut chances. The most dangerous move saw Schick hit a shot from ten yards out straight into the arms of Ortega on 83 minutes.

It lasted until the last few minutes before the Werkself were finally able to convert one of their chances: A cross from Amiri was turned back from the byline by Alario to his strike partner Schick for a tap-in from six yards out to make it 2-1 on 85 minutes. The Bosz team endeavoured to go again with Stegemann playing six minutes of added time. A shot from Frimpong hit the side netting (90+2'). The game ended in a 2-1 defeat with Bielefeld heading home to East Westphalia with their first win in the second half of the season.

Visitors to the capital

Bayer 04 have another Sunday game next weekend. The Black and Reds play Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium with the kick off at 15.30 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Grill – Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Wendell – Amiri, Aránguiz, Demirbay (Alario 46') – Diaby (Wirtz 65’), Schick, Gray (Bailey 46')

Bielefeld: Ortega – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Lucoqui (Voglsammer 76') – Maier, Prietl – Doan (Córdova 88’), Okugawa (Kunze 81’), Gebauer (van der Hoorn 88’) – Klos (Schipplock 81’)

Goals: 0-1 Doan (17’), 0-2 Okugawa (57’), 1-2 Schick (85’)

Booked: Frimpong, Wendell – Pieper

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)