Werkself review #B04BMG: Run extended at start of Rückrunde

Summary: Good defence cracked open

The top match at the BayArena started with bad news from a Bayer 04 perspective: Martin Terrier went off injured after eight minutes and was replaced by Piero Hincapie. The Borussia defence gave little or nothing away for a long time against a dominant Werkself side – before Florian Wirtz pulled off a masterstroke on 32 minutes rounding off a brilliant move with the opening goal at 1-0. Bayer 04 took the narrow lead into half-time. The hosts remained on the case in the second 45 with Wirtz making it 2-0 from the penalty spot (62'). The penalty was given for a handball by Gladbach's Julian Weigl. Patrik Schick – with an assist from Wirtz – sealed the win with 15 minutes to play. Tim Kleindienst scored a consolation goal for Borussia Mönchengladbach late on for the final score of 3-1. HERE is the match report.

Reaction: "We played well overall"

"We are very happy. It was a tough game and not easy to hold on to the lead. Mönchengladbach defended well and it wasn't easy for us to find space," said head coach Xabi Alonso after the game. "Unfortunately we were unable to maintain concentration in the final ten minutes but we played well overall."

Arthur said to Werkself TV: "We played a good game against a good team. We were very focused and played as a team. It was a very important home win." Nathan Tella: "We are in a good rhythm and we want to use the momentum for our next game against Atletico Madrid. We want to carry on as we are."

What the papers say: "Champions dominate and shine at times"

Bild Zeitung reported a "Wirtz gala performance" and awarded top marks to the 21-year-old. Granit Xhaka also received top marks and six other Bayer 04 players were awarded the second highest mark. The Rheinische Post witnessed a "commanding" victory and the Werkself had "delivered." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger as usual broke down the report into several categories. In the section "That was good" it read: "The Bayer 04 game. The champions dominated and shone at times. Florian Wirtz once again made the difference. And the six changes in the starting line-up compared with a 1-0 win against Mainz in the week worked well." The kicker headline features the Leverkusen double goalscorer: "Wirtz audacious and clinical: Leverkusen send Gladbach packing."

Personnel: Congenial offensive duo

In the middle of several weeks with midweek matches, Xabi Alonso made six changes to the starting line-up compared with the 1-0 home win against Mainz in the week - more than in all previous games this season. The last time there were as many changes seem to a Werkself starting XI in two successive Bundesliga fixtures in a season was in March 2022 .

Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick, the Leverkusen goalscorers on the night, were not in the six changes to the starting line-up. Wirtz provided the assist for Schick's goal to make it 3-0 and it was his seventh Bundesliga assist for the Czech in succession. Wirtz has now provided eight assists in the league with only Omar Marmoush providing more for Eintracht Frankfurt (nine). It was also the second league brace this season for the 21-year-old with the previous one also against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

For Schick it was his twelfth Bundesliga goal this term with all coming in the last eight matches. No other Bundesliga player scored anywhere near as many during that period (nobody netted more than seven goals).

Stats: Balance numbers in game

Bayer 04 have extended the winning run to eleven games – the second most since promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979 after 14 games from September to November in 2023.

The stats, with the exception of the goals scored, were balanced: The Werkself had 54% possession and ten shots on goal compared to seven for BMG with the visitors from the Lower Rhine having the edge in challenges won (55%). Pass completion for the teams was 88% (Bayer 04) and 87% (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

Outlook: First Atletico Madrid away then RB Leipzig

Bayer 04 are next in action in the Champions League. The Werkself are away to top Spanish team Atletico Madrid on Matchday 7 in the league phase. The kick-off on Tuesday, 21 January, is at 21.00 CET. That is followed by another top clash on the road four days later, this time in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig (kick-off: 15.30 CET).