Werkself review #BMGB04: Rehearsed and performed

SUMMARY: WITH A CLEAR PLAN

Leverkusen sorted out their opponents with plenty of patience and precision: The Werkself made 29 passes in the build-up to the opening goal scored by Victor Boniface (18’) without Borussia getting a single touch of the ball. A chipped pass from Granit Xhaka into the penalty area was headed across the box by Alejandro Grimaldo for Boniface to head into the net at the near post to make it 1-0. The second Leverkusen goal immediately before half-time was almost a carbon copy of the first strike: This time, Xhaka played the ball into the right side of the penalty area where Jonas Hofmann cut it back for Jonathan Tah to hit a precise volley into the far corner. The result was sealed before Borussia could make up the deficit: Florian Wirtz moved through the midfield unopposed and with a clear plan and his through ball was converted by Viktor Boniface using the power of his body and a cool finish to beat the keeper Jonas Omlin for the third goal (53'). The match report is HERE.

REACTION: "THE MARGIN IS OK TOO"

Florian Wirtz summed it up after the final whistle: "I was completely happy with my own performance and the team’s was even better." Victor Boniface saw the potential to up his game despite his brace: "I'm happy about the two goals but I can play even better and there's room for improvement." Xabi Alonso did not have much to complain about with his players. "We are very satisfied and happy with the performance and the result. The second goal just before half-time was very important to us." And Mönchengladbach's coach Gerardo Seoane also recognised the superiority of the winners: "We met an opponent of high quality individually and collectively. The margin of the result is ok too.”

Granit Xhaka, who Xabi Alonso had particular praise for ("He's very important to us, Granit is the focal point between defence and attack and he brings stability and control"), demonstrated the connection between practice and performance on the pitch. "We do everything on the pitch in exactly the same way as we work on in training. It makes me happy when it works out as with the first goal. We practised it exactly like back in training the day before," said the Swiss midfielder.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: "XHAKA THE LINCHPIN"

“Bayer brilliant!” wrote the Bild am Sonntag and awarded top marks to 04 players: Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka, Exequiel Palacios and Jonathan Tah. "Foals with no chance against Alonso's team," reported the Express. "Leverkusen underline their dominance," was the headline in the WAZ am Sonntag. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger named Granit Xhaka as the man of the match: "The linchpin, an outstanding performance on his old stomping ground." The Rheinische Post also paid a similar compliment to the Leverkusen midfield maestro: "Impressively sustainable the way he controlled the tempo of the game. He was everywhere and already looks like the leader.”

PERSONNEL: FIRSTS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY

Could it be that Jonathan Tah is blossoming into a goalscorer as he matures? The Werkself central defender has not only won numerous challenges after two matchdays but he has already netted two goals. For the 27-year-old, it is the first time in 245 Bundesliga games he has found the back of the opposition net in two successive games. We can happily get used to that, Jona! That was not the only first in the match at Borussia Park: Victor Boniface scored his first two goals for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga and Gustavo Puerta, who came on for the Nigerian striker in the closing stages, made his debut in the German top flight.

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STATS: ONE MAN, ELEVEN SHOTS

Talking about Victor Boniface: The centre forward set a record for the Werkself in Mönchengladbach. Of the 24 shots on goal from Bayer 04 at the Borussia Park stadium, eleven came from the 22-year-old wearing the number 22 shirt. Since records were first collected in the 2004/05 season, no other Leverkusen player has had as many shots on an opposition goal in one game. By comparison: The whole Mönchengladbach team had 12 shots on Lukas Hradecky's goal. Bayer 04 also had the upper hand in the game in terms of possession (60%) and in pass completion (89% to 83%).

OUTLOOK: EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW THEN DARMSTADT VISIT

Matchday three brings the second home game for Bayer 04: The Werkself entertain newly promoted SV Darmstadt 98 at the BayArena (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) on Saturday 2 September. There is also something of great interest for the Werkself and their supporters the day before: The draw for the group stages of the UEFA Europa League is on Friday 1 September starting at 13.00 CEST.