Werkself review #B04RBL: Up to fourth place with ‘fantastic energy’ from the fans

Summary: Werkself shine with a real top striker

It quickly became clear that Bayer 04 were determined to claim the three points at the BayArena. The Werkself played with enthusiasm, dominated the game and converted over 75 per cent of possession into a deserved lead on 25 minutes through Patrik Schick. After providing the assist, Nathan Tella went on to register his second goal involvement just before half-time when he tucked away an accurate cross from Aleix Garcia. After the restart, the Black and Reds continued to impress with their tenacious counter-pressing and quick transition play - and consequently increased the lead to 3-0 with Schick's second goal in the game (76'). The visitors' direct reply with a header from Christoph Baumgartner (80') had little effect on proceedings. Shortly before the final whistle, the Werkself sealed the home win at 4-1 (90'). The scorer?

• Match report
• Macth highlights
• Full match replay

Reaction: "One of the best performances of the season"

"A big compliment to our stadium and our vocal fans. That was fantastic energy and we needed it today," declared head coach Kasper Hjulmand after the match, and he felt his team had "put in one of the best performances of the season". "We had passion, but were also well-structured, with direct passing and strong counter-pressing." The Dane also had words of praise for hat-trick scorer Schick: "He looks very fresh and alert. His current form is impressive and he’s also very important for the team as a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room."

Looking at the table, Hjulmand was pleased with the positive current position, which he wants to "use" with his team: "We have to think ahead and keep at it, then we can do anything. Next week is the next tough task, but we are focussed and ready for the remaining two games."

"It was a great game from all of us. You could see how much we wanted this win and how much we want to go into the Champions League as a team," said Ibrahim Maza. Nathan Tella, like his coach, was already looking ahead: "We have to win three times and we took the first step today. We can't rest now, we have to perform like we did today in Stuttgart."

• Post-match reaction
• Post-match press conference

What the papers say: Lively, dominant, exciting

"Schick excels" headlines the kicker and adds: "Leverkusen dominate Leipzig". The paper also reports: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen put in one of the best performances of the season at the right time." Bild Zeitung writes: "Schick is unstoppable." The Rheinische Post saw a Leverkusen team that showed itself to be "more lively than it had been for a long time", while an "exciting Werkself" were honoured three times with top marks in the individual assessments in the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (Garcia, Tella, Schick).

Personnel: Most in-form goalscorer in Europe's top 5 leagues

After scoring a brace in the derby win against FC Köln (2-1), Patrik Schick scored his 101st, 102nd and 103rd goals in a Werkself jersey with his hat-trick against RB Leipzig. The Czech has scored nine times in his last six Bundesliga appearances, more than any other player in the top five European leagues since 20 March. He also netted for the fifth time to make it 1-0 and is now the third-highest scorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals behind Harry Kane (33/FC Bayern Munich) and Deniz Undav (18/VfB Stuttgart). Nathan Tella also stood out against RBL: In his 68th Bundesliga match, he scored and provided an assist in the same game for the first time.

Stats: Werkself impress in attack and defence

With the home win, Bayer 04 have now picked up points in nine of their last ten Bundesliga matches and won five of their last seven games against RB Leipzig. The Black and Reds have also scored at least twice in each of the last six games against RBL. The Werkself defence also stood firm once again: The goal to make it 3-1 was only the eighth the Leverkusen side have conceded in the final quarter of an hour - a league best (shared with FC Augsburg).

The match stats underline the Werkself's deserved home win: With 23 shots on goal to 14, 55 per cent possession and a successful duel rate of 53 per cent, the Black and Reds were superior to the visitors from Saxony in all respects. The midfield maestros Aleix Garcia, Ibrahim Maza, Exequiel Palacios and their team-mates also shone with a pass completion rate of 89 per cent.

Next up: Top match away to VfB Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart, a direct rival in the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, are the opponents next weekend. The kick-off at the MHP Arena is at 15:30 CEST on Saturday, 9 May - away tickets are available HERE. On the final matchday of the current Bundesliga campaign, the Werkself entertain Hamburger SV in front of a full house at the BayArena. The game kicks off at 15:30 CEST on Saturday, 16 May.