Werkself share points in 0-0 draw with Gladbach in first league home game in 2024

Compared with the last-minute victory in Leipzig (3-2), head coach Xabi Alonso made three changes for the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach: Matej Kovar replaced Lukas Hradecky in goal and Robert Andrich played in defence in place of the suspended Jonathan Tah. The Leverkusen number eight wore the captain's armband. Nadiem Amiri came in for Exequiel Palacios playing in the centre of the park alongside Granit Xhaka . In front of a full house at the BayArena, the Werkself dominated from the start and pressed high up the pitch. From the kick-off, the Leverkusen players were camped in the Borussia half and they moved the ball around the opposition penalty area for minutes on end. Whenever Bayer 04 lost possession the ball was won back within seconds so that the Black and Reds had over 80% possession in the first 15 minutes. There were worthwhile efforts from Amiri (5') Jonas Hofmann (18') and Florian Wirtz (19’).

Dominant Werkself look to break through

The visitors had their first chance through Luca Netz (23') but Kovar was able to make the save. At the other end, the hosts had a clear-cut chance through Wirtz: The unmarked playmaker was picked out in the centre by Xhaka but the Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas was just able to turn the shot round the post (25'). Both teams had other opportunities but the Werkself continued to have the upper hand in the game. Leverkusen as usual tried to find the gaps with their passing game while the team under Foals head coach and Alonso predecessor Gerardo Seoane waited to exploit chances on the break. There were two promising goalscoring opportunities towards the end of the first half. First came a long-range effort from Alejandro Grimaldo (40') and minutes later Hofmann aimed at goal (45+1'). The two sides then went into half-time with the scoreline at 0-0.

After the restart, play initially was more in the direction of the Foals' goal. Leverkusen continued to have the majority possession and played significantly more passes compared to the visitors. The best chance of the second half up to that point fell to Jeremie Frimpong: The Dutchman was fed by Wirtz in a counter-attack but he failed to connect properly with his weaker left foot and the ball missed the target. Chances then came one after another: Frimpong was surprised by a low cross from Grimaldo (59’) and then it was Grimaldo who put a shot just over the bar on the hour mark. And then it was Frimpong again who was through on the BMG keeper Nicolas but he was put off by Florian Neuhaus (61').

no late winner for the Werkself

The match developed into a similarly patient game as against FC Augsburg and RB Leipzig. Nathan Tella replaced Amiri to bring fresh legs into the attack and Grimaldo played in holding midfield alongside Xhaka. Adam Hlozek came off the bench to replace Hofmann shortly after that. However the hosts lacked the necessary penetration even with the new players on the pitch. The Black and Reds clearly battled to the end but there were no goals. The match ended all square at 0-0.

outlook: Darmstadt then cup tie against Stuttgart

The Black and Reds are back in action on Bundesliga Matchday 20 against SV Darmstadt 98. The match at the Merck Stadium am Böllenfalltor is on Saturday 3 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET). That is followed three days later by the DFB-Pokal quarter-final tie against VfB Stuttgart with the game at the BayArena kicking off at 20.45 CET on Tuesday 6 February.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Kovar - Stanisic, Andrich, Hincapie - Frimpong, Xhaka, Amiri (Tella 68’), Grimaldo - Hofmann (Hlozek 84’), Schick, Wirtz

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Nicolas - Scally, Elvedi, Friedrich - Weigl - Honorat (Lainer 70’), Koné (Kramer 79’), Neuhaus (Fukuda 79’), Netz - Hack (Reitz 62’), Jordan (N'Goumou 79’)

Booked: Xhaka, Schick, Stanisic - Weigl

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena