As in their opening match against TSG Hoffenheim, the Werkself got off to a good start against Bremen. Patrik Schick crowned Nathan Tella’s solo run with the opener after five minutes. Leverkusen doubled the lead with their second shot when Axel Tape sidestepped two opponents on the right. Via Robert Andrich, Alejandro Grimaldo and Christian Kofane, Malik Tillman got hold of the ball and juggled it on his chest and shoulder before volleying in with his left foot (35’). VAR intervened after Tape’s challenge on Mbangula and Romano Schmid pulled one back from the penalty spot (44’). Leverkusen almost replied immediately, only for the woodwork to prevent a third for the Werkself when Kofane hit the bar. Stark upended Kofane in the box and received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, with Schick converting the ensuing penalty (64’). But Bremen struck back despite their numerical disadvantage. Isaac Schmidt beat Bayer 04 keeper Mark Flekken to a long ball and found the empty net (76’) before Coulibaly rewarded Bremen’s pressure with the equaliser in added time (90’+4). Read the match report HERE.
Leverkusen were disappointed after the match. “If we lead 3-1 and are a man up, we must take three points. We were too wild and made many mistakes after the sending-off. We must start playing as a team immediately, otherwise we won’t win any matches,” summarised captain Robert Andrich. Nathan Tella agreed: “We had it in our own hands and made life difficult for ourselves.” Head coach Erik Ten Hag commented: “The two goals we conceded despite being a man up should have never happened. We didn’t function as a team any more in the closing stages.” Malik Tillman too was disappointed: “I had imagined my debut differently, my feelings are rather bad. A victory for the team is more important than my goal.”
“Werder turnaround despite being a man down,” Bild am Sonntag reported. The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung headline read: “Leverkusen do many ‘stupid things,’” citing midfielder Malik Tillman. The kicker title read: “Coulibaly crowns Werder madness.” Patrik Schick received a high mark from the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger: “After a few minutes, he was where a striker has to be and crowned Tella’s assist to open the scoring. He chipped the penalty into the middle of the goal to make it 3-1.” The Rheinische Post praised forward Christian Kofane: “He rarely had good chances at first but set up the second goal by Malik Tillman. He was out of luck when he hit the bar and won the penalty that resulted in the third goal.”
After Jarell Quansah, Ernest Poku, Christian Kofane and Claudio Echeverri had made their Bundesliga debuts against Hoffenheim, Axel Tape and sub Loïc Badé made their maiden Bundesliga appearances. Badé and Tillman made their first competitive appearance in Leverkusen colours. Patrik Schick once again demonstrated his outstanding quality in front of goal. The 29-year-old boasts 66 Bundesliga goals for Bayer 04 after his brace against Bremen and is in fifth place in the club’s all-time scorer rankings. The Czech has his sights set on the top three: he is within striking distance of Dimitar Berbatov (69 goals) and Herbert Waas (72).
Bayer 04 dominated possession (56 percent) and were in front in terms of pass completion rate (89 percent to Bremen’s 84) and corners (7-3). Werder had the higher xGoals number (2.59 to Leverkusen’s 2.10) and took more shots (13-10). Nathan Tella was the fastest player at 35.76 km/h.
After the first international break of the season, the Black and Reds entertain Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, 12 September. The game against the team from Hesse, who have won their first two Bundesliga matches, kicks off at the BayArena at 20:30 CEST
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
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A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
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After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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