Werkself review #B04TSG: Commanding display despite numerical disadvantage

Summary: Werkself play with efficiency and joy

The Werkself were efficient and dominant from the kick-off: Striker Victor Boniface gave Bayer 04 an early lead (15') after impressive work by his two teammates Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo. Just four minutes later, Frimpong set off in the direction of the opposition goal down the right flank. Aleix Garcia showed good vision and picked out the Dutchman who found the back of the net to make it 2-0. The hosts continued to play with evident joy after the two goals. Nathan Tella was fouled in the penalty area on 22 minutes by Hoffenheim's David Jurasek but referee Robin Braun reversed his initial penalty decision due to the Nigerian being in an offside position in the move.

The Werkself continued in the same vein after the restart: Substitute and new signing Emiliano Buendía left opponents standing before hitting a shot goalwards. The TSG keeper Luca Dante Philipp was only able to parry the shot with fellow substitute Patrik Schick tucking the rebound into the bottom corner to make it 3-0. That was goal number 14 in the Bundesliga for the Czech, which is already twice as many as last season (seven). Alejandro Grimaldo was shown a second yellow card on 61 minutes after a late tackle on Marius Bülter. The visitors pulled a goal back in the ensuing action with Gift Orban (62') scoring for TSG. Despite playing with ten men for the rest of the game, the Black and Reds gave nothing away and the match ended in a 3-1 victory. The match report is HERE.

Reaction: "We controlled the game"

Head coach Xabi Alonso summed up the game as follows: "I'm happy with the lads. We controlled the game from the start and played with high intensity. We were in a good position at 3-0. And we also did well with ten men after that. What we could do better is avoid trivial yellow cards."

Boniface said after his return: "I'm happy, it’s been too long. An early goal is important for the confidence of the team and we showed that today." Schick also found words of praise for his fellow striker: "Victor was out injured for a long time and he comes back and scores right away. I know how difficult that is. It's also really important for him to score straightaway."

Jonathan Tah looked forward: "Of course, we would have preferred a clean sheet. But we produced a good display overall. Now we're looking forward to Wednesday!"

What the papers say: "Bayer took control from the first minute"

The Rheinische Post report reads: "Bayer 04 took control from the first minute and (…) and Bayer continued to press after taking the lead." The Bild reported: "Look out Bayern! Bayer Leverkusen haven't given up on the title." kicker adopts a similar view: "Bayer Leverkusen still have their sights on league leaders Bayern with the win against Hoffenheim: The Werkself dominated proceedings in the 3-1 win and impressively held on to the victory after Grimaldo was sent off."

Personnel: Buendía and Hermoso debuts

Both Buendía and Mario Hermoso played after being in the Werkself squad for the first time. Buendía was brought on after 42 minutes due to an injury to Nathan Tella. The Rheinische Post described his debut: "With very good touches – and impressive on the ball." The forward had to go off again after 20 minutes due to a tactical change after Grimaldo was sent off but following that the second new signing Hermoso was also able to make his debut – congratulations!

Defender Edmond Tapsoba not only celebrated victory on Sunday but also his 26th birthday – a belated happy birthday.

Stats:  Nobody scores more often than Schick

TSG Hoffenheim had 51.5% possession and had 16 shots on goal (Bayer 04: 9). The Werkself did win 58% of challenges. Pass completion for the hosts was 87.4% (TSG: 84.5%).

The two strikers also produced noteworthy stats: Boniface made his 50th appearance for Bayer 04 and scored his seventh Bundesliga goal of the season with the opener. That was his first goal in the top-flight in over three months – the Nigerian scored his last goal in the draw against Werder Bremen at the end of October (2-2).

Fellow striker Schick made his 150th appearance for the Werkself – since his arrival in September 2020 no other player has scored as many goals for the Werkself as the Czechia international (72). And there's more: He has scored nine goals in his last eight games for the Black and Reds – that is only surpassed in Europe's top five leagues over that period by Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) and Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) - eleven each.

Outlook:  Another action-packed week

The Werkself are back in action in two days time on Wednesday, 5 February, in the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal against FC Köln. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 20.45 CET. That is followed on Saturday, 8 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET), by the away clash at VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena on Bundesliga Matchday 21.