Werkself review #B04FCB: A victory with humility and dominance

Summary: Different approach, same outcome

The record champions from Munich had more possession early on in this top match at Bayer 04 made the better start. The first shot on Manuel Neuer's goal came on 11 minutes with an effort from Amine Adli set up by Nathan Tella. Leverkusen increasingly took control of the game with fast counter-attacks launched on the FC Bayern defence. A throw-in on the left came to Robert Andrich who showed vision with a cross into the penalty area that found Josip Stanisic, currently on loan from Bayern Munich, at the far post. He fired the ball into the back of the net for the opening goal and his first strike for the Black and Reds (18'). In the second 45, Tella and Alejandro Grimaldo carried on from the first half with some attractive interplay. The Spaniard hammered the ball into the net from close range to make it 2-0 and that was his second goal against FC Bayern. Bayer 04 have already scored eleven goals in the first 15 minutes after half-time in the current Bundesliga campaign – more than any other team. The visitors were unable to respond to the dominant performance of the hosts. At the end of the game, there was a final corner for the Thomas Tuchel team that saw Neuer go up into the penalty area: In the ensuing counter-attack, Frimpong put the ball into the empty net for a deserved 3-0 scoreline. The fans, teammates and coaching staff celebrated wildly to an electric atmosphere at the BayArena. The match report.

Reaction: "We showed how much we wanted it"

Head coach Xabi Alonso said after the final whistle: "We were very disciplined today we waited for our chances. We didn't have the ball as much as usual but were always dominant on and against the ball." But the Spaniard conceded: "We’ve played two great opponents this week and we did very well and we are very happy. But every week is important to us. We are only in February. We have to remain calm."

Goalscorer Stanisic was also happy as he summed up: "We didn't give anything away at the back and that gave as a good base. We were at it from the kick-off today. The atmosphere was brilliant and we can definitely celebrate a bit for the next two or three days. However, the season isn't over and we've got a long way to go."

Andrich added: "That was really awesome. It was a special game. We played perfectly. We showed how much we wanted it. We knew that we had to go to our absolute limit. We did well in the first half and then said we had to do the same again in the second half. We knew we had to play with humility today but also lots of confidence." The midfielder also had special praise for his coach: "Xabi succeeds in preparing for every individual opponent and that helps us to never lose our style of play even when we're under pressure."

What the papers say: Top marks

The Bild reports a "demonstration of power" and awards top marks to Stanisic, Tah, Piero Hincapie, Granit Xhaka, Tella, Florian Wirtz, Grimaldo as well as Alonso as coach. The Rheinische Post called it a "statement" and added: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen were smarter tactically, more together as a team and played with flexibility." The kicker headline: "Bayern deservedly checkmated: Leverkusen extend lead at the top of the table" and the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger concluded: "For Leverkusen it is also important to see that they can dominate a game without possession and thereby successfully cover all aspects of a football game."

Personnel: Hradecky on the fence

On top form: Grimaldo has been directly involved in 17 goals (eight goals, nine assists) in his first 21 Bundesliga matches for the Black and Reds – since detailed records have been kept in 2004/05 only Patrick Helmes in 2008/09 was involved in more goals (19) in the first 21 Bundesliga matches for the Werkself. Stanisic scored his second goal in the Bundesliga on Saturday night against his parent club – his previous strike was for FC Bayern against VfL Wolfsburg in May 2022.

Possibly the best scene of the night happened after the final whistle: In the traditional homage to the home end, Lukas Hradecky ended up on the fence in the North Stand: With a microphone in his hand, the captain joined the fans in the North Stand and the players with a word perfect and loud rendition of the "Uffta" celebration. Alonso waved over all the coaching staff to celebrate with the fans. He addressed that moment at the post-match press conference as follows: "It was a really great moment celebrating with the fans and all the staff. Everybody is working very hard and the players know it. It was a top win for all of us."

Stats: Eleven clean sheets

The Werkself had 14 shots on goal and Bayern Munich had nine. The team from Munich had 61% possession and won 56% of all the duels. Pass completion for the hosts was 82% and 89% for the visitors. Leverkusen have had 11 clean sheets in 21 games, more than every other team in the Bundesliga this season.

Outlook: Away to Heidenheim

The players have Monday and Tuesday off. Hradecky and Co. will then start preparations for the next game against FC Heidenheim on Bundesliga Matchday 22. The next fixture on Saturday 17 February kicks off at 15.30 CET at the Voith Arena. Once again all the away ticket allocation for Bayer 04 has been taken up.