Back
21.01.2024Bundesliga

Werkself review #RBLB04: Comeback kings win again

With a shock opener, a strike from a sub and a sound away performance, the Werkself did not fly out of the blocks away to RB Leipzig at the start of the second half of the season but did finish the game on a high. Following the last-minute winner at FC Augsburg a week ago, the team under head coach Xabi Alonso produced a significantly improved performance in Leipzig with a varied approach on the pitch, solid discipline and battling morale. After going behind twice, Leverkusen secured the next victory in added time and they now have more points than they did at the end of last season. The Werkself review.
crop_20240120_JS2_2678.jpg

Summary: A game of two halves, two crucial set pieces

Leipzig made the better start to the match and quickly exploited their advantage: Xaver Schlager found Xavi Simons and he netted an impressive strike on the turn to give RBL the early lead (8'). Bayer 04 looked to hit back with Alejandro Grimaldo creating a chance on 17 minutes – almost the only attack on the opposition goal by a thwarted Werkself. The team under head coach Xabi Alonso then suffered a bitter blow: Winger Jeremie Frimpong went down in pain and he had to be substituted. Nathan Tella replaced him on 31 minutes. The Black and Reds then increasingly took command of proceedings after a difficult start to the game.

The visitors were more dominant from the start of the second half and the first attack led to the leveller from Tella three minutes after the restart. The Nigeria international was on the end of an excellent assist from Grimaldo leaving him with a tap-in. Bayer 04 continued to create good chances. But, on 56 minutes, a corner from the Black and Reds ended with RBL mounting a counter-attack that saw Lois Openda restore the lead for the hosts. A corner for Leverkusen on 64 minutes proved decisive: Grimaldo curled the ball into the box and Jonathan Tah was in the right spot to head it into the back of the net to level at 2-2. Tah and Co. pressed for the victory. Added time brought a result that seemed impossible at the start of the match: Another corner found Piero Hincapie who converted the last-minute chance to secure a perfect start to the Rückrunde from a Bayer 04 perspective (90+2'). The two goals were numbers 14 and 15 from set pieces – the highest number in the league. The match report.

Reaction: "Showed another side of this team"

Alonso summed up the match at the post-match press conference as follows: "We saw a very intense game where anything could have happened. We’re happy we were able to score the third goal in the end. Leipzig were a strong opponent and it was very tough. We didn't do well in the first half and Leipzig often found space for Xavi and Openda." But the Spaniard added: "We did better in the second half. It was a great counter-attack by Leipzig but conceding did not bother me. I was confident we could do it as we have a strong mentality."

Jonas Hofmann said: "We made it difficult for ourselves in the first half and we weren't aggressive enough in challenges and were unable to win the second ball. Xabi said a lot of good things at half-time to address things. We adjusted our approach to the game well and we had more possession again and that gave us confidence and the chance to express ourselves. I think we deserved to win in the end." Granit Xhaka declared: "Being able to come back after the first half showed another side of this team."

crop_20240120_JS3_0463.jpg

Goalscorer Tella was also happy: "I knew I had to give my all. It was the start of our comeback. We knew we could turn the game around."

What the papers say: "Leverkusen confirm invincibility"

The Süddeutsche Zeitung headline reads: “Leverkusen confirm invulnerability." The WAZ reports: "Leverkusen are unbeatable." The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung called it a "High quality football match." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger saw it as follows: "Leverkusen unimpressed by Leipzig" and they praised Hincapie: "Even as Leverkusen's back three wobbled in the first half as RB Leipzig pressed with their attacking quality, the 22-year-old remained alert. Hincapie took the opportunity presented by the absence of Odilon Kossounou and Edmond Tapsoba."

Personnel: Grimaldo ever ready, Tella on target again

Tella demonstrates efficiency: Only Paulo Sergio (41 minutes against Bayern Munich in 1996) and Josef Nehl (36 minutes against VfL Bochum in 1992) scored earlier off the bench for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga as sub Tella did against RB Leipzig (46 minutes). The Nigerian has scored both his Bundesliga goals coming off the bench. Alonso praised his winger at the post-match press conference: "It was brilliant. He had a good impact on our game and not just with his goal." Grimaldo also impressed: The Spaniard has scored six goals and provided four assists away from home this season – that is more than any other player in the league. Against Leipzig, he came up with two assists for the first time in a Bundesliga match.

Tah picked up a fifth yellow card so the defender is suspended for the next match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

 

Tella beim Jubel

Stats: More wins than last season

The Werkself had 18 shots on goal, RB Leipzig had ten. Bayer 04 had 60% possession and 50% completed challenges. The Black and Red pass completion was 90% with the team from Saxony clocking up 80%. Bayer 04 won after being behind at half-time in the Bundesliga for the first time since 19 March 2023 (against Bayern Munich). The victory over RB Leipzig means Leverkusen now have more wins this term than in the whole of last season (15).

Outlook: First home game in 2024

The first home game in the Rückrunde sees Bayer 04 return to the BayArena with Borussia Mönchengladbach the visitors on Saturday 27 January. The kick-off is at 18.30 CET. The match is already a sell-out.

Related News

Begegnungslogo
Bayer 04 - 02.07.2025

Tickets for the friendly at Chelsea

The Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.

Show more
Begegnungslogo
Bayer 04 - 02.07.2025

Tickets for the friendly at Fortuna Sittard

The Werkself are away to Dutch top-flight club Fortuna Sittard in the third pre-season friendly. The match is on Friday, 1 August at the Fortuna Sittard stadium with the kick-off at 19:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.

Show more
Begegnungslogo
Bayer 04 - 02.07.2025

Tickets for the friendly at VfL Bochum

The Werkself are away to VfL Bochum in the second pre-season friendly. The match is on Sunday, 27 July at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. Read on for the latest information on ticket sales.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 02.07.2025

U21 Euros winner Jarell Quansah joins Bayer 04 from Liverpool

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the England U21 international and European champion Jarell Quansah. The central defender joins Leverkusen from Premier League champions Liverpool on a contract to 30 June 2030.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2025

New chapter – same fire: Bayer 04 and New Balance present 2025/26 home jersey

A striking look and innovative design as an expression of a forward-looking partnership: With the official presentation of the current home jersey, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and sports equipment manufacturer New Balance start a new era in tandem. For the first partnership with a professional German club, the American company from Boston, Massachusetts has developed a creative new interpretation of the Leverkusen club colours. A row of red lines, made up of slender crosses, merges into a black background. Inspired by the world famous Bayer Cross, the jersey is a symbol of a new beginning without forgetting historical roots.

Show more