The spectators at a sold-out wohninvest Weserstadion initially witnessed an evenly balanced encounter. The first times Bayer 04 approached the hosts' goal came from combined efforts by Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli (5', 11', 15'). Werder made their first real attack on the half-hour mark – and scored straightaway: Set up by Jens Stage, Marvin Ducksch opened the scoring for the Green and Whites with a shot in the penalty area (30'). But Leverkusen produced a prompt response: Just four minutes later, Mitchel Bakker levelled at 1-1 with a powerful strike. In the second half, Werder Bremen's Niklas Stark deflected a shot from Jeremie Frimpong and the ball ended up in the net to give Bayer 04 a 2-1 lead (56'). The match came alive again with seven minutes to play: Adam Hlozek put the Werkself 3-1 up with a header, Niclas Füllkrug pulled a goal back from the penalty spot (86') following a handball by Piero Hincapie and the game ended 3-2. HERE is the match report.
Keeper Lukas Hradecky was clearly satisfied in an interview with Werkself TV: "Hats off to Bremen as they made life difficult for us today. But the win was not undeserved and it was very important for us and we could have perhaps scored more goals. We are on a good run and games like that help us a lot with our development." And goalscorer Frimpong was also happy: "It was a difficult game today. It was a fight and it was about who wanted it more. Sometimes you don't score the best goals but they all count." Jonathan Tah took a similar view of the game: "We didn't start well and we gave them too much space. But then we got into the game and were fortunately very effective." The defender was also confident ahead of the forthcoming matches: "We've suffered a lot recently and that has brought us together. The win gives us energy and a good feeling for the next matches."
After the captain celebrated making his 200th appearance for Bayer 04 last weekend in the 4-1 home against Hertha Berlin, the Finn has reached another landmark: The 33-year-old made his 150th Bundesliga appearance for the Werkself in the game in Bremen. Congratulations, Lukas.
The Werkself had a total of 13 shots on Jiri Pavlenka's goal, Werder Bremen had 12 attempts. It was different in terms of possession: Werder had their noses in front with 53% and the same applied to challenges won with the Bremen team having 57%. The hosts had a pass completion rate of 77% and Leverkusen 73%.
A lot of praise from the press. The Süddeutsche Zeitung headline: "Dominant even without Wirtz. Bayer Leverkusen remain on course for European spot after the 3-2 win in Bremen." The Express took a similar view: "Pure luxury: Bayer rest Wirtz and win." The Rheinische Post above all praised the performances of the Leverkusen players on the wings: "Bakker and Frimpong turn it round." The Leverkusener Anzeiger awarded top marks to Frimpong: "In spite of slight muscular problems, he was again the speed nightmare for the opponents. Provider of the equaliser. And scorer at 2-1. Man of the match." And kicker also named the Dutchman as their man of the match: "He provided the cross for the equaliser at 1-1 and put Leverkusen 2-1 up himself: Jeremie Frimpong played a crucial role in the Werkself win with his good attacking play.”
The next fixture is just around the corner: The team have a day off today but the Werkself will train in Leverkusen for the next two days. The first game this week is on Thursday 16 March: Lukas Hradecky and Co. are away to Ferencváros in the Round of 16 second leg in the Europa League. The kick-off at the Puskás Aréna is at 21.00 CET. Another two subsequent training sessions in Leverkusen will be followed by the clash with the record champions Bayern Munich on Sunday 19 March. The kick off at the BayArena is at 17.30 CET.
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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