The Werkself took an early lead in the game: Victor Boniface opened the scoring for the Werkself after just nine minutes. Leverkusen continued to play on the front foot and created chance after chance. However, the Black and Reds failed to score the next goal and it was Heidenheim who netted on 58 minutes to level at 1-1. The Werkself response was impressive with Jonas Hofmann restoring the lead five minutes later (63’). The other goals from Boniface (75’) plus from substitute Amine Adli (83') secured a deserved 4-1 home win.
Following the Bundesliga match, Exequiel Palacios, who provided the assists for the first two goals, explained: “I know the runs the lads make and I'm glad I was able to set up their goals. It's important for us all to pull together. We're on the right track." Hofmann also spoke after the game with praise for the team's desire to win: "We didn't allow ourselves to be blown off course when we conceded and then we took the lead again straightaway. That was impressive." But the Germany international also admitted: "Heidenheim stretched us a lot. One negative was that we didn't score the second goal soon after the first."
Head coach Xabi Alonso summed up the match as follows: "We were ready for a tough game and we remain focused after the equaliser. I'm happy with the performance and the commitment of the players." The Spaniard also had positive words about meeting the Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt: "It was good to talk to him today. And thanks to him for the book he gave me." Schmidt countered: "It's my pleasure, thank you very much. But that's almost a bit uncomfortable. I shouldn't think I'm more important than I am."
The Heidenheim coach also spoke about the game: "Defeats are never good but today it was deserved. We weren't able to create much and had a lot to do in defence. Leverkusen's fourth goal for 4-1 was brilliantly worked."
The media were almost of one mind after the final whistle. All praised the impressive performance of the Werkself. Criticism was aimed at the Black and Red conversion rate. The kicker writes about a dominant Leverkusen with a "slight flaw," while the Rheinische Post praises the "impressive form" of the Werkself but also talks about "careless conversion of chances." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger has the headline of the "next show of strength by the Werkself" and also talks about an "absolutely deserved win with a very dominant performance that was only at risk for four minutes."
The next two goals for the Nigerian: Boniface chalked up Bundesliga goals five and six on 9 and 75 minutes. It was also the third brace for the striker in a Werkself shirt. He previously scored two goals against Borussia Mönchengladbach and against Darmstadt 98.
Another player was voted Man of the Match: Exequiel Palacios, who received top marks for his impressive display against Häcken, provided the assists for the first two goals against Heidenheim and played a significant role in the Werkself victory. Palacios and Boniface received top marks after the game from the Rheinische Post .
The Werkself had an incredible 21 shots on goal compared with two for Heidenheim. While Leverkusen admittedly only converted some of the many chances, the Black and Reds set a record with the four goals: 17 goals from five Bundesliga matches is a new record for the Werkself with Leverkusen never before scoring so often after so many league games.
The other stats strongly favoured Bayer 04 in the game against Heidenheim in terms of possession (72% to 28%), completed passes (824 to 323) as well as the challenges made (60% to 40%).
The Werkself have completed the first double fixture week of the new season. Now there is a normal training week ahead of Bundesliga matchday six on Saturday 30 September with a 15.30 CEST kick-off against Mainz 05 at the MEWA Arena. That is followed by the first away game in the UEFA Europa League: The Werkself are away to the Norwegian champions Molde on Thursday 5 October (kick-off: 21.00 CEST).
Whether it's sport or his private live: Captain Edmond Tapsoba tells us his top three personal favourites in twelve categories in edition #56 of the Werkself Magazine. The defender had to answer as quickly as he reacts on the pitch. 'On the Podium' with Edmond Tapsoba!
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“Year after year, this is an incredibly valuable gathering, both in terms of the content covered and the opportunity for mutual discussion,” stressed Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach David Thiel in his welcoming address at this year’s goalkeeping coaches’ meeting. This was the third time in four seasons that the event had been held at the BayArena. Organised by the German Football Association (DFB), the meeting brought together goalkeeping coaches from the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and the 3rd division from the west region. For the first time this year, goalkeeping coaches from the youth performance centres (NLZ) were also present. Bayer 04 fitness coach Markus Müller provided fascinating insights into the specific fitness training carried out with the Werkself’s goalkeepers.
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A floodlit derby, two further night games and a top-of-the-table clash on a Saturday afternoon: The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed the exact dates for four further matchdays in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. This means all fixtures for the Bayer 04 women’s team up to the end of the year, as well as the first two in 2027, are now confirmed.
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It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and the matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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