Werkself review #B04VFB: “Had enough chances to win”

Summary: No reward for efforts

After a pretty even opening period with the first opportunities falling for Bayer 04, the hosts started to up the pressure and were the dominant side up to the very end. Jeremie Frimpong thought he’d put the Werkself ahead just after the half-hour mark, but Victor Boniface was offside as he delivered the assist. Just before the break, Edmond Tapsoba’s header was denied by the crossbar. Chances continued to flow in the second half, including more for Frimpong, Boniface and Florian Wirtz. But despite all Leverkusen’s attacking endeavour, there was no way through on Friday night. You can read more about the game in our report HERE.

Reaction: “Perhaps the best performance of the season”

After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso said in summary: “We’ve played against Stuttgart a lot of times. They always press really high, we know that. We wanted to take decisive action with our line-up and style of play. The plan worked; we just lacked a goal. My team showed a super approach today. We had enough chances to win.”

Jonas Hofmann added: “We knew that Stuttgart are good and that details will be important. It was one of the best games by us this season. Unfortunately, we just lacked a goal in the end.” Granit Xhaka was of a similar opinion: “It was maybe our best performance this season. We were there both with and without the ball. We created a lot of chances, worked a lot, so we’re disappointed.” Fellow midfielder Robert Andrich again echoed those thoughts: “We played a great game, were really aggressive and ran hard. Out of all the games against Stuttgart, this would’ve been the most deserved win.”

PWhat the papers say: “The most unlikely result”

The Rheinische Post wrote in its summary of a “Stuttgart rearguard” and “waves of Leverkusen attacks”, adding that “The game ended with the most unlikely result of 0-0”. The headline from kicker was “Leverkusen fail to capitalise” and wrote of a “superior” Bayern 04 side who were “unfortunate in front of goal” against a “flat” Stuttgart attack.

Both Bild and the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger picked out VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel managing to keep the Werkself at bay. However, the latter still put the result down to Leverkusen “not taking chances” and that “the visitors only came to stop football being played.”

Personnel: Good displays from all

So much of the play took place in the Stuttgart half and in front of their goal, with very little to report from the VfB attack thanks to a really good effort by Leverkusen’s backline. Jonathan Tah and the others had everything under control, especially in the first half, where they didn’t allow a single Stuttgart shot. It wasn’t until the 61st minute that Deniz Undav finally registered a VfB attempt. Chris Führich’s 82nd-minute shot was dealt with by Lukas Hradecky.

Stats: No goals scored but also none conceded

The shot count at the end of the first 45 minutes was 10-0 in Leverkusen’s favour, and 19-4 by the end of the game. The Werkself twice struck the woodwork with Tapsoba’s header off the bar and a Boniface shot off the post. It means Leverkusen have hit the frame of the goal eight times this campaign – the most of any team in the Bundesliga.

It was also only the second time in the last 43 Bundesliga games that Alonso’s men have failed to score. The other was the 0-0 draw at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach back in January. Yet despite how displeasing the result may feel, there was one big positive as Bayer 04 kept their first clean sheet of this Bundesliga season.

What about the other numbers? Well, apart from a clear advantage at corners (10-2), the rest of the stats were surprisingly equal, such as possession (51.7% vs. 48.3%), pass completion (83% vs. 81%) and distance (113.73 km vs. 113.66 km).

Outlook: Liverpool then Bochum

The Werkself now have back-to-back away games in the coming week, starting at Liverpool for Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday (9pm CET). Alonso’s men then go to Bochum in the Bundesliga the following Saturday (3.30pm) before the final international break of the year.