With three changes to the starting line-up, the Werkself were up and running from the kick-off – and were soon rewarded for their efforts: Victor Boniface (4’) and Jonas Hofmann (8') found the back of the net. The assists for both goals came from Exequiel Palacios in his first start of the season. Another goal from Boniface was ruled out due to an offside decision (26’). The Storks pulled a goal back just before half-time with Max Geschwill making it 2-1(45+5'). Bayer 04 continued to press after the restart but the next the goal came from the opponents: Jann-Fiete Arp converted a penalty – after Jeremie Frimpong had brought down Armin Gigovic – for a surprising equaliser at 2-2 (70'). That was the final scoreline. HERE is the match report.
Lukas Hradecky summed up the game as follows: "We felt good at 2-0 but then lost concentration and we didn't take our chances." The captain added: "We have to analyse it carefully, we weren't good enough today. It doesn't matter if we're playing against AC Milan, Bayern or Kiel, we have to play the same way if we want to win. We should have won here today regardless of the performance. We dropped the points."
Head coach Xabi Alonso said: "We're not happy with the performance. The result is clearly our own fault. We didn't play with enough intelligence after the early lead. At the end of the day I can say: the draw was a fair result. Today we only deserved one point."
The kicker headline reads: "Bayer's blistering start not enough." The summary by the sports journal: "Bayer 04 shook up Holstein Kiel in the opening stages of the game. But because the superiority was 'only' a two-goal lead, KSV were able to fight back." The Bild-Zeitung reports: "The team of double winning coach Xabi Alonso – in post two years today – blunders in his 100th game in the dugout. Leverkusen are 2-0 up. Then the newcomers crash the party for the 120th anniversary of the Werkself."
The Rheinische Post opts for the following headline: "Holstein Kiel take point against Bayer Leverkusen." And furthermore: "The Werkself were 2-0 up against the newly promoted club from the north after ten minutes and the team under coach Xabi Alonso missed the chance to seal the win and allowed the visitors to come back into the game. They were grateful to accept the invitation, levelled the scores and secured the draw." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger awarded the high mark of 2 to Exequiel Palacios, Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface. Jonas Hofmann received a 2.5.
After a brief appearances, Exequiel Palacios made his first start of the season on his 26th birthday. And the working day for the Argentina World Cup winner could not have started better: Palacios set up the 1-0 scored by Victor Boniface as well as the 2-0 netted by Jonas Hofmann. The 26-year-old went off on 70 minutes after winning plenty of possession and challenges as usual.
Head coach Xabi Alonso was in charge for his 100th game at Bayer 04 in the match against Holstein Kiel – and that on his second anniversary under the Cross. The Werkself brought in the Spanish coach on 5 October 2022. And what happened in the following season will never be forgotten in Leverkusen...
Bayer 04 are often first out of the blocks in the current Bundesliga campaign. The Werkself have scored eleven goals before half-time in the first six games – more than any other club in the top flight. Four of those goals have come in the opening 15 minutes and that is also a league record.
The numbers in the match predominantly favour Bayer 04: 23 to 8 shots on goal, 74% possession and a significantly better pass completion rate (92% to 74%). The Storks were just in front in challenges with 55% won.
A large number of Werkself players are now on international duty. The German double winners will then be playing at the BayArena again: The opponents on Saturday, 19 October (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) are Eintracht Frankfurt. That is followed by the next match in the Champions League away to Stade Brest.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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