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).
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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The Werkself began 2026 with defeat, losing 4-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga. Jamie Leweling opened the scoring early, with Maximilian Mittelstädt making it 2-0 from a penalty before Leweling again and Deniz Undav increased the lead to 4-0 just before half-time. Alejandro Grimaldo's penalty reduced the deficit midway through the second period.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has gained a new partner in digital gaming platform Crown Coins, which joins the Bundesliga runners-up's Sponsors Club with immediate effect. The one-and-a-half-year contract runs until 30 June 2027.
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The Werkself host VfB Stuttgart this evening (10 January, 18:30 CET), a side whose recent Bundesliga form has been indifferent but who have regularly produced top performances in the DFB Pokal and UEFA Europa League, and who have a key player back in the squad in striker Ermedin Demirovic. Off the pitch, the BayArena faithful will be able to see the remaining stoppage time live on the video screens. The Matchday News.
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