Werkself review #SGEB04: Comebacks, debuts and records

Summary: Focused performance seals win

Eintracht Frankfurt made a bold start to the game but Granit Xhaka put the Werkself ahead on 12 minutes. The record Switzerland international received the ball when Robin Koch attempted to clear a cross from Arthur and it rebounded off Adam Hlozek. Xhaka hit the ball into the top right corner. After the opener, the Black and Reds pressed the hosts who levelled out of the blue with a goal from Hugo Ekitiké (32’). After his teammate Omar Marmoush missed a cast-iron chance just before the end of the first half, Patrik Schick headed the Werkself back into the lead at 2-1 with an assist from fellow Czechia international Hlozek (44'). Eintracht Frankfurt continued to play on the front foot after the restart as they pressed for an equaliser but they then went further behind with a penalty converted by Exequiel Palacios (58'). The goals from substitutes Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Boniface, who also scored from the penalty spot, sealed the 5-1 away win. The match report.

Reaction: "I'm grateful to my players"

Xabi Alonso, who had to watch the game from the stands due to a one-match touchline ban, said at the post-match press conference: "I'm very happy, we played with focus and concentration. The mentality and consistency are brilliant and the result is outstanding and spectacular. I'm grateful to my players, it wasn't easy to get a result here after the match in Rome." Asked about assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla, who was in the dugout for the game against Eintracht, Alonso added: "It was a new experience. Sebas and the whole coaching team did well. They have great energy and passion. I've always been able to communicate well with Sebas and Alberto (Alberto Encinas, ed)." Jonas Hofmann said: "We definitely didn't want to lose the game in Sebas’ first match as head coach." Parrilla was showered with water in celebration by the players after the final whistle.

Granit Xhaka said after the game: "We knew everybody had to accept more responsibility against Frankfurt. We started well, had a lot of control. We wanted to remain unbeaten today, have done it again and we are getting closer and closer to achieving something special."

What the papers: "Bayer 04 tear Frankfurt apart"

The Rheinische Post headline after the game read: "Bayer 04 take Eintracht Frankfurt apart." The match report in kicker: "Despite rotation, Leverkusen remained clinical and convincingly beat Frankfurt." The sports journal added: "The first 30 minutes were marked by total dominance from the Werkself that saw Eintracht overwhelmed in every department as they were confronted by their possession and positional game." Bild talked about a "5-1 gala performance" and the FAZ wrote: "Eintracht were inferior to Leverkusen in nearly every respect." The Frankfurter Rundschau headline read: "Thrashing for Eintracht," and added: "Eintracht Frankfurt are overwhelmed by the champions Leverkusen, but don't find the setback that bad and see the result as 'absurd'."

Personnel: Hat-trick of assists for Hlozek

It was not just a special game for head coach Alonso and his assistant Parrilla. The game was also special for several players: Arthur returned after a seven-month lay-off due to injury. It was also the first start for the Brazilian in a competitive Bayer 04 game. Xabi on the Brazilian’s debut: "He did well. Arthur is an intelligent and very nice lad and he always works hard. We hope he will become a top player with us in the future." Talking about his performance, Arthur said in very good German: "I feel good. It was a difficult game but I'm proud of our performance. The team helped me and I'm very grateful for that. I'm happy to be back on the pitch."

Hlozek also played his first minutes after injury – and he made a significant contribution to the away win for the Werkself with three assists. The Czech thereby produced as many assists as in all his previous 51 Bundesliga appearances put together. Since records have been kept, Hlozek is only the fourth Leverkusen player to provide three assists in a league fixture. The Czech was awarded top marks by the Rheinische Post and Bayer 04 fans also voted him Man of the Match.

There was also a special landmark for Lukas Hradecky. The Finland international, who played for Frankfurt from 2015 to 2018 and won the DFB Pokal in 2018, made Bundesliga appearance 292 in the game against Eintracht. The Finnish Werkself captain thereby takes over from Yann Sommer as the foreign keeper with the most appearances in the Bundesliga.

Florian Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo did not travel to Frankfurt. Alonso explained the situation before the match on DAZN: "Flo and Alejandro are not injured. We are being careful. They are fit for Thursday but had a few problems last week so we didn't want to take any risks."

Stats: Even stevens, goal record broken

The Werkself finally secured another win in Frankfurt after six and a half years. The five previous matches at Eintracht all ended in defeat. But admittedly this result is not necessarily reflected in the match stats. The numbers were comparable in terms of possession (55.4 to 44.6%), challenges won (51.8 to 48.2%) and pass completion (Bayer 04:86%, Frankfurt: 84.3%). Only in shots on goals did the Black and Reds have a clear advantage (17 to 9). Five of those ended up in the back of the Eintracht net setting a new club record for the Werkself: Bayer 04 have now scored 82 goals in the Bundesliga this term – a feat never achieved before in the top-flight.

Outlook: Roma second leg, away to Bochum 

The next game is the second leg against AS Roma in the Europa League. The Black and Reds entertain the Italian side at the BayArena on Thursday 9 May (kick-off: 21.00 CEST). That is followed by this season’s penultimate Bundesliga matchday: The Werkself are away to VfL Bochum at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday 12 May (kick-off: 19.30 CEST).