Werkself review #B04FCU: ‘Keep on going'

Summary: Efforts go unrewarded

The Werkself took control from the start and had the first good chances through Jeremie Frimpong (1’) and Patrik Schick (8’, 9’). The Black and Reds had over 75% possession in the middle of the first half but were unable to convert their dominance into clear-cut goalscoring opportunities in this phase of the game. Union – except for an offside goal (15') – made almost no progress up front. Just after the half-hour mark, Schick tried his luck again but his curled effort landed just wide of the target. The two sides went into half-time with the scoreline at 0-0. It was the same after the restart: The Werkself applied huge pressure, Union defended with all their might. Returnee Florian Wirtz plus other forwards endeavoured to score the long-awaited goal over the course of the second half. However, the ball did not find its way into the back of the net before the final whistle. HERE is the match report.

Reaction: "We will give our best"

Head coach Xabi Alonso said at the post-match press conference: "It wasn't good enough today. We lacked a bit of energy in the final third. Therefore we didn't manage to earn the right to score. We have to accept that." The Spaniard added: "The season isn't over yet and we will continue to keep going. There are five games to play and we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Skipper Lukas Hradecky admitted: "The attacking brilliance we've shown in the past two years has been absent in the last few games. It wasn't a good game today and we were the better team. But we end up with a 0-0 draw and that's a disappointment."

Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli spoke to Werkself TV after the game. Hincapie said: "We weren't clear enough in our chances and we didn't create many. We have to work harder in future to get the three points." Adli added: "I think we weren't very dangerous today but it was up to us to find the solution." Talking about the remaining matches this season, the Morocco international said: "We are focusing on the last games. We will give our best – for us, for the club and for the fans. We are hoping for the same great support as before. We know the fans are always behind us."

What the papers say: "Too little for Leverkusen"

The kicker sums up the game as follows: "Leverkusen had more of the game as expected. Union showed little up front except for an offside goal (15') following a corner that should not have been awarded." The Sport Bild reports: "The Irons battled for a deserved point in the end, remain in good form and far away from the drop zone. Too little for Leverkusen." And the Rheinische Post observed: "The champions from Leverkusen can only manage a goalless draw and failed to make a statement in the direction of Munich ahead of the top match between FC Bayern and Dortmund." The game between FCB and Borussia Dortmund ended in a 2-2 draw.

Personnel: The crowd rise to their feet as one - Hofmann remains unbeaten

There was rousing applause and a standing ovation when Wirtz came onto the pitch on 57 minutes to make his comeback after five weeks out on the sidelines. And the influence of the playmaker was immediately felt: A few minutes after coming on, he set up Exequiel Palacios who hit a powerful shot at the FCU goal (59').

Two other Werkself players also made their return against Union: Edmond Tapsoba was back on the pitch for the first time since the game against Werder Bremen (0-2), Palacios was in the matchday squad again for the first time since the 3-1 win against VfL Bochum. Both were in the starting XI.

Jonas Hofmann can now look back at a unique record: The Werkself number seven has yet to lose a single Bundesliga match playing for Bayer 04. Hofmann has now played in 40 league matches for the Black and Reds with 30 wins and ten draws. Last week he equalled the record of Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez with the 1-0 win away to FC Heidenheim. The Spanish midfielder recently completed 39 games unbeaten for FC Bayern.

Stats: Unmistakable numbers

The Werkself had 74.6% possession and 16 shots on goal (FCU: 7), completed 702 passes (FCU: 246) and had seven corners. The Leverkusen team made 42 crosses while the team from Berlin only put in five.

Outlook: Away to St. Pauli, home to Augsburg

The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga matchday 30. The match at the Millerntor Stadium on Sunday, 20 April, kicks off at 19:30. Bayer 04 then host FC Augsburg at the BayArena on matchday 31 with the home game on Saturday, 26 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST).