Werkself review #TSGB04: Back again with Schick show

SUMMARY: SCHICK'S BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE

There's no doubt the hosts had the upper hand in the first half in Sinsheim as they made the better start and exploited a mistake in the Leverkusen defence to take the lead through Georginio Rutter (22'). And Hoffenheim were quick to respond when Patrik Schick levelled with an impressive strike on 34 minutes with Christoph Baumgartner heading his team back in front at 2-1 (38'). The Werkself took control after the restart and turned the game round. Moussa Diaby netted the equaliser at 2-2 after a good move in the penalty area (73'), before Patrik Schick showed a big striker can also be incredibly nimble and agile. It was outstanding the way he took the ball past two opponents with the sole of his feet in the tightest of spaces, then stumbled but quickly righted himself and evaded the TSG keeper Oliver Baumann in almost the same move before slotting the ball into the back of the net – the goal to make it 3-2 (76') was a masterpiece. Bayer 04 also had luck on their side with Bruun Larsen hitting the post and Andrej Kramaric failing to convert the rebound (79'). Lucas Alario sealed the 4-2 victory with this goal in added time. HERE is the match report.

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REACTION: EVERYONE CAN DO EASY

One word was heard again and again on the afternoon in Sinsheim: Sporting director Simon Rolfes was equally "proud" of the team as were Jonathan Tah and Lukas Hradecky. "We didn't always play the best football but you could see how the lads coped with all the absences in the team up front and they simply deserve to be in the Champions League," said Rolfes. The departing sporting managing director agreed. "Third place is a great success given the difficult situation with lots of injuries. It's a great way to finish – for me too, of course," declared Rudi Völler. Coach Gerardo Seoane expressed "congratulations to the team for the great development this year." The quote of the day on the ups and downs at the PreZero Arena was provided by Jonathan Tah who said to Robert Andrich: "It would be boring if it was easy."

PERSONNEL: DIABY NEW KING OF ASSISTS

Patrik Schick remains on course for records: With his brace in Sinsheim, the 26-year-old has 24 goals in just 26 games and is now one goal away from a Bayer 04 club record set by Stefan Kießling in the 2012/13 season. Moussa Diaby is already a step further on and he is now the Leverkusen record holder in terms of providing goals. His assist at 1-1 for Patrik Schick was the twelfth assist by the France international this season, one more than the previous record.

A third Werkself player stood out in Sinsheim although he did not play in the game. But it is highly remarkable that Jeremie Frimpong was back in the squad just seven weeks after his ankle injury in the derby against FC Köln. After full-time, he received a warm embrace from CEO Fernando Carro. And the Dutch defender led the way in the celebrations on the pitch in front of the travelling fans in the stands...

STATS: WILL THE 80S RECORD BE BROKEN?

Who is really interested in the match stats after this game? Completely different numbers are much more interesting from a Leverkusen perspective. The Werkself are in the Champions League for the thirteenth time next season and that is only topped in Germany by FC Bayern (25) and Borussia Dortmund (16). And, with these 04 goals in Sinsheim, Bayer 04 have already scored 78 times this season – one more than the old club record from the legendary 2001/02 season. The Werkself could even exceed the record set in the 1980s in the final game against SC Freiburg.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: "COOLLY MANAGED THROUGH THE RUN_IN"

The press were agreed on the man of the match. "Schick thrills Leverkusen," is the headline in the Welt am Sonntag. "Bayer really Schick into the Champions League," is the headline in the Express. Patrik Schick also comes out with the top mark of '1' in all ratings. The Rheinische Post opts for this assessment: "Converted a cross from Moussa Diaby in the true style of a striker scoring the leveller at 1-1 with a left-foot shot out of the blue (34'). His outstanding ability again and again shone as with the shot from the edge of the box (51'), his assist at 2-2 (73') and his technically brilliant goal to make it 3-2 (76')."

The online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger also mentions the head coach in their season review: "Bayer 04 have achieved the target of the Champions League without problems in the end after the disappointing cup competitions. In spite of massive injury problems, that must have led to a change of playing philosophy, the Werkself qualify for the Champions League with a game to play following three wins in succession. Coach Gerardo Seoane played his part because he never lost his nerve and he coolly managed his squad through the run-in with all the absences in attack."

OUTLOOK: EMOTIONAL FAREWELL FOR RUDI

The final match in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season promises a very relaxed afternoon: Bayer 04 can be very laid back from a sporting perspective in the final encounter with SC Freiburg on Saturday 14 May at the BayArena (15.30 CEST). But it will definitely be an emotional day. On the one hand, fans will not miss the chance to celebrate qualifying for the Champions League again with the Werkself and, on the other, there is a very special farewell: Rudi Völler will be at a Black and Red match for the final time as sporting managing director before he moves on to the shareholders committee at Bayer 04.