"Hertha inflict serious blow on Leverkusen's Champions League ambitions with a 2-0 victory," is the summary in kicker online. "The Berliners shocked the initially very dominant Werkself by taking the lead out of the blue," added the sports journal, and said that Bayer 04 "were frustrated by a brilliant defensive performance from their opponents."
The Werkself are at least praised for the opening stages of the game. "In the first quarter of an hour, it looked as if the team under coach Peter Bosz had travelled to the Olympic Stadium with enough confidence," analysed the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. "Hertha were struggling to prevent the Werkself creating good chances on goal. But with the opening strike they pulled the plug on Bayer 04."
RP Online provides a similar description of the unfortunate course of the first 25 minutes at the Olympic Stadium. The journal tributes "motivated" to the "start by the visitors with threats particularly coming from their wingers Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey. The best chances in a good start to the game fell to Kai Havertz (5') and Kevin Volland (6')." However, then there is the big but: "The fact the Werkself did not take their chances came back to haunt them. Matheus Cunha rounded off the first really successful move by Hertha to make it 1-0 (22') – Bayer keeper Lucas Hradecky stood no chance with the shot from 14 metres out."
The rest of the match draws the following analysis from FAZ: "Hertha were very defensive after taking the lead and worked hard to close space down. Leverkusen moved well up to the box but the final pass often went astray." The assessment is therefore short and succinct: "The Berliners were more effective than Leverkusen."
The WELT AM SONNTAG provides a remarkable fact in the unfortunate performance by the Werkself: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen failed to score in the Bundesliga for the first time since the 1-0 defeat earlier in the season against Hertha. The Werkself have only lost both games this season against the team from Berlin."
There is now only a glimmer of hope for next Saturday due to the opponents’ performance highly praised by the media. "Ahead of the final matchday, Bayer must hope for the next step forward for Berlin," writes the EXPRESS. "As Hertha are then away to Champions League rivals Gladbach."
The BILD am Sonntag clearly states the position before the final matchday: "Leverkusen have to win (against Mainz), and Gladbach lose (against Hertha)." The tabloid does show another route to the Champions League for the Werkself: "Or: Leverkusen win the Europa League in August. As the winners automatically qualify for the Champions League."
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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