The Werkself did not need much time to get on the front foot with Granit Xhaka posing the first threat on the opposition goal after 60 seconds. The hosts then pressed for the opening goal. Four minutes later, another Bayer 04 forward Amine Adli was fouled in the penalty area. Victor Boniface stepped up but failed to convert the spot-kick. At the other end, Eintracht took the lead through an Omar Marmoush penalty on 16 minutes. Despite going behind, the Black and Reds remained on top and equalised on 25 minutes with a goal from Robert Andrich after an impressive move. After many more chances for Leverkusen in the second half, Boniface scored with a header to secure a deserved 2-1 win (72'). The match report is HERE.
Xabi Alonso said at the post-match press conference: "We showed big mentality by coming back strongly after a missed penalty and a spot-kick against us. And we stuck together brilliantly at the end. We can build on that." The Spaniard added: "It was important to again show how strong we can be at the BayArena. We need that feeling. So we can be very happy today and use the win for the games coming up."
Goalscorer Andrich said: "I think we played with great concentration from the start. We remain focused despite going behind. We were briefly worried but we absolutely deserved to win."
The headline in the Bild-Zeitung reads: "That's world-class! Bayer shine with tiki-taka goal." The Rheinische Post takes a similar position: "What unfolded was a match with good moves on both sides. The best of them was the perfect combination before the equaliser scored by Robert Andrich." The newspaper awarded top marks to the midfielder: "Was almost always centre stage. And again and again with strong interventions at the back." kicker writes: "Thanks to a hard earned 2-1 win against an Eintracht Frankfurt side, who were particularly good before half-time, Bayer Leverkusen secured three points as they move closer to the top of the table. And furthermore: The match became more one-sided after the break. Leverkusen dominated most of the proceedings and Eintracht rarely came out of their own half."
Lukas Hradecky made his 300th Bundesliga appearance against his former club Eintracht Frankfurt and is thereby the first foreign goalkeeper to play 300 games in the Bundesliga. The Finland international made 101 appearances in the top-flight for Frankfurt from 2015 to 2018 and this was match number 199 for the Werkself. The humorous response from the Finn: "That must mean I'm an old fogey!"
In addition: Martin Terrier provided his first assist for the Black and Reds as he set up the equaliser for Andrich.
The Werkself had 54% possession, 27 to 9 shots on goal and 52% of challenges were successful. 27 shots on goal is a new record for the club in the current Bundesliga campaign. Completed passes were almost 92% and Eintracht Frankfurt had almost 88%.
Comeback qualities: With the win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 have picked up six points after going behind in the current Bundesliga season – that is more than any other team.
The Werkself now have three busy weeks coming up. First off is a trip to France: Bayer 04 are away to Stade Brest in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, 23 October (kick-off: 18.45 CEST). Four days later, Hradecky and Co. face Werder Bremen on Bundesliga matchday eight. The kick-off on Saturday, 26 October is at 18.30 CEST.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
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Alejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
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Second game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
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In the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
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Bayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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