"The opening stages of the game clearly belonged to Leverkusen, who were committed, played high up the pitch with all the players in the Dortmund half at times, and looked to press," was the assessment in the Rheinische Post. The best chances for the Werkself fell to Nadiem Amiri (5') and Moussa Diaby (16') but the first goal of the game was scored by the visitors from Dortmund. Julian Brandt provided the assist for Karim Adeyemi to give BVB a 1-0 lead (33'). Edmond Tapsoba was unlucky to score an own goal in the second 45 minutes to make it 2-0 (53'). At the other end, Leverkusen were unable to beat the Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel with the result that the Werkself ended the game with no points after a run of five Bundesliga wins.
"We definitely had our chances today but we didn't use space well and we weren’t sharp enough – we just made too many mistakes," said Jonathan Tah after the final whistle. His teammate Robert Andrich agreed: "The crucial factor today was converting chances. The smarter team definitely won today. But we never let our heads drop and always tried to keep on going." Head coach Xabi Alonso also looked forwards at the post-match press conference: "After five wins we had to accept defeat today. Of course, our target remains European qualification but we have to pick up a lot of points for that. Now we are looking forward to Friday where we can expect an intense match in Augsburg."
Seven is the number - That is the number of shots by the Werkself forward Moussa Diaby against Borussia Dortmund. However, the 23-year-old Frenchman was mostly denied by the BVB keeper Gregor Kobel. And the Rheinische Post also saw Diaby as the "stand-out player in the flexible Werkself attack," but the best scorer and provider for Bayer 04 (six goals, three assists) this term was unable to add to his tally on the night.
A look at the stats reveals the number of goals scored was the only one favouring the visitors from Dortmund in the game: The Werkself had 56.7% possession, won more challenges (54.2%) and had a better pass completion rate (86%, BVB: 81.2%). In addition, Moussa Diaby and Co. had three times as many shots on goal as the opposition.
The Leverkusener Anzeiger describes the opening stages as follows: "Bayer 04 could have had the edge in the game that they dreamed of. The fact there were no more chances than the one (Diaby was kept out by the BVB keeper Gregor Kobel on 70 minutes, ed.) was down to the Werkself themselves as they were unable to use the space created after winning possession." The kicker talks about a "setback for Bayer in the battle for Europe," the "most impressive start" by the Werkself went unrewarded on the night.
The Werkself are back in action as soon as Friday night 3 February with an away game at FC Augsburg. The fixture in Bavaria marks the start of Bundesliga matchday 19 and the kick-off is at 20.30 CET.
Bayer 04 are then at home again with the Black and Reds with TSG Hoffenheim the visitors on 11 February at 15.30 CET.
After being nominated for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025, Martin Terrier's wonderful strike for the opener against FC Köln is now also up for selection for the ARD Sportschau Goal of the Month award for December 2025. Bayer 04 fans have until 19:00 CET on 10 January to vote for the French forward.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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"In every ending lies a new beginning" is a well-known saying. This phrase has probably never been more apt at Bayer 04. After winning the Bundesliga in 2023/24 and finishing as runners-up in 2024/25, the summer was the most eventful ever in terms of transfers. Over ten players and the coach, including the coaching staff, left the club. A lot of the heroes of the double-winning side began a new chapter. It was the end of an era. And at the same time the beginning of a new, very exciting and promising chapter for Leverkusen. The Werkself welcomed more than a dozen new arrivals, including experienced title-winners and young talents, to build a new "foundation for a successful team capable of winning titles" under the Bayer Cross, as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. A new spirit, a new hunger, a new story was to be created. Bayer04.de looks back at the first few months of this story and the final act of the preseason.
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43 points at the end of the last Bundesliga season were not only more than ever before for the Bayer 04 Women, but also led to a record fourth-place finish. That was followed by a Hinrunde with many more victories, but also some setbacks. In an interview with bayer04.de, sporting director Achim Feifel takes stock at the end of the year.
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With their wonderful goals, Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz are up for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025. Voting for fans will run exclusively via the official Bundesliga app until Sunday, 4 January.
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