15.09.2024Bundesliga

Werkself review #TSGB04: Reaction shown with commanding performance

Bayer 04 clocked up a convincing away win yesterday following on from the 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig before the international break. The Werkself were particularly impressive up front at TSG Hoffenheim. A new signing opened the scoring for Leverkusen with his first goal for the club, Victor Boniface netted a brace and Florian Wirtz converted a penalty. And there was also another first appearance in a Black and Red jersey at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim. The Werkself review.

Summary: Commanding and calm

The Werkself, with three new signings in the starting line-up compared with the 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig, dominated proceedings from the start and at times pressed TSG back deep into their own half. New signing Martin Terrier deservedly gave the German double winners the lead on 18 minutes, Victor Boniface then made it 2-0 after the half-hour mark. Hoffenheim's Mergim Berisha pulled a goal back for the hosts late in the first half (37'). After a quiet start to the second half, Dennis Geiger brought down Florian Wirtz in the TSG penalty area and the Leverkusen playmaker picked himself up to convert the spot-kick to make it 3-1 (72'). Boniface rounded off the scoring at 4-1 with the second strike of his brace. The match report is HERE

Reaction: "Happy with the performane and the result"

Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said after the final whistle: "Of course, we are happy to have won here. Our challenge was to be dominant again here. I think we really deserved to win." Granit Xhaka said: "Not everything can be perfect after the first two matchdays. We’re happy we could get a result again today and that we showed a good reaction after the Leipzig game. That does us good." The Switzerland international did share some criticism: "We wobbled a bit after conceding the goal and that mustn't happen. We need to work on that."

Head coach Xabi Alonso said at the post-match press conference: "We were absolutely ready for this match and we showed the right reaction after the defeat against Leipzig. We played with discipline and professionalism even though we had a couple of problems before half-time. Nevertheless, we are happy with the performance and the result overall."

What the papers say: "Recovered well after the defeat"

he kicker writes: The Victor Boniface brace "puts Bayer back on winning ways." And further adds: "Hoffenheim only resisted for a half." The Rheinische Post reports: "Bayer Leverkusen recovered well after the first league defeat in 15 months." The news journal named Boniface as Man of the Match and gave him top marks. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger: "Bayer Leverkusen produced a champion's performance after the end of an impressive run of 35 Bundesliga games unbeaten."

Personnel: Debuts for Terrier and Mukiele

The opener was the first goal for new signing Martin Terrier in a Werkself jersey. The Frenchman did open the scoring in the draw in the friendly at RC Lens (2-2) and the assist there was also provided by Victor Boniface. Terrier said after the game: "I wanted to use the international break to integrate better into the team. I'm very happy that it's worked so well today straightaway with the first goal and that we were able to pick up a convincing victory."

It was also a special afternoon for another new signing in Sinsheim: Nordi Mukiele, who joined the Werkself in the summer on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, made his debut for Bayer 04. The Frenchman came on for Piero Hincapie on 85 minutes.

Stats: Goal threat from attacking duo

The Werkself are now unbeaten in the last 19 away games in the Bundesliga (16 wins, three draws). Only Bayern Munich have a longer unbeaten run on the road in the history the Bundesliga (33 from 2012 to 2014). For the first time in the club's history, Bayer 04 have won the first two away games in a Bundesliga campaign.

And a look at individual numbers in the match reveals some interesting statistics: The scorer of two goals and provider of one Victor Boniface had seven shots on goal in Sinsheim – at this point, the equal highest number for any player in the current Bundesliga season. After his goal and his assist at TSG, Florian Wirtz now has three goals and one assist and that is only bettered by Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric (four goals, one assist).

Outlook: Champions League opener

Bayer 04 next play in the newly created league phase of the UEFA Champions League. The Werkself are away to Feyenoord on Thursday, 19 September (kick-off: 18.45 CEST). The next opponents in the Bundesliga are VfL Wolfsburg. The match at the BayArena on Sunday, 22 September, kicks off at 15.30 CEST.

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