The Werkself had more possession in the first half but failed to create a shot on goal. The defence of the superior Freiburg team remained unthreatened for a long time while Matej Kovar produced an impressive save to deny Junior Adamu (34’) at the other end. Kovar was beaten ten minutes later when a shot from Maximilian Eggestein from outside the box was slightly deflected into the back of the net. It was a similar picture after the restart: Two thirds possession for the double winners but the next goal was also scored by SCF – this time an own goal from Piero Hincapie who did all he could to challenge Adamu but ended up touching the ball last. In the closing stages, Florian Wirtz produced an impressive solo run and a clinical finish to make it 2-1 (82'). The Werkself pressed forward and secured a point when Jonathan Tah scored with a header in the third minute of added time for the final score of 2-2. HERE is the match report.
Head coach Xabi Alonso: "We had control for 15 to 20 minutes but then gave the ball away too often and Freiburg played well. I always say to the lads that a 2-0 lead is dangerous – one goal and anything can happen. We had a chance again after the brilliant goal scored by Flo and then Jonas scored too. We have mixed feelings overall today."
Amine Adli: "Conceding the goal before half-time was tough for us and then the second came just after the restart. It's never easy playing in Freiburg. But we showed again we are a strong team with character. Everybody on the pitch gave their all right to the end."
Tah: "We started well but then eased off and gave the ball away too often. It carried on like that in the second half and we didn't play well overall. But we scored the goals in the end and that was important."
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The Rheinische Post reported a "harmless performance" following the game and the individual analysis was of similar ilk. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger highlighted the "maintenance of the away run" but observed "one of the poorest games under Xabi Alonso". The kicker talked about a "drab Leverkusen" and "a couple of unusual mistakes in defence."
Tah reached an impressive milestone in his third from last game for the Werkself: The 29-year-old, under the Cross for ten years, made his 400th appearance for Bayer 04 in Freiburg. Before him that has only been achieved by five other players: Record appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn (487), Thomas Hörster (453), Ulf Kirsten (448), Stefan Kießling (444) and Carsten Ramelow (437).
Following his landmark game, which he rounded off with a last-minute equaliser, Tah said to Werkself TV: "I'm extremely grateful for the moments with all my teammates, staff, fans. I'm very proud looking back over all the years." It was Bundesliga goal number 18 of his career and his third this season – he only scored more in the title-winning campaign last season (four).
And the second Leverkusen goalscorer in the match, Wirtz, also clocked up an impressive stat: The now 22-year-old scored his tenth goal in the current Bundesliga campaign and, alongside FC Bayern's Michael Olise, is the only other player to have a double-digit number of goals and assists since the start of the season.
Bayer 04 failed to have a shot on goal in the first half of the Bundesliga game for the first time since September 2018 but the last-minute equaliser showed the Werkself once again have persistence and great determination. It was the 13th point earned after going behind in the current Bundesliga season (only Bayern Munich have picked up more with 14 points). Leverkusen are now unbeaten in 33 Bundesliga away games (23 wins, 10 draws) and have equalled the record set by FC Bayern in the Bundesliga from 2012 to 2014.
The stats in the game, with the exception of the number of shots on goal (5 to 7), favour the Werkself: 68% possession, 53% of duels won and a pass completion rate of 85% (Freiburg: 68%).
The Werkself are next in action in the last home game of the season. The kick-off in front of a full house against Borussia Dortmund is on Sunday, 11 May at 15:30 CEST. Bayer 04 are away to Mainz 05 for the last match of the season (Saturday, 17 May, 15:30 CEST).
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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