Xabi Alonso made five changes to his team from the weekend’s 2-2 draw away at RB Leipzig, including Matej Kovar replacing Lukas Hradecky in goal again. Leverkusen pushed for a win from the start against the Czech champions, who are still on their domestic winter break and already out of contention in the Champions League. Granit Xhaka had the first attempt inside three minutes, while Jonathan Tah saw an effort cleared off the line and Patrik Schick put a header narrowly wide. All the action was taking place in the Sparta half, but the Werkself just couldn’t find a way through at first.
Referee Georgi Kabakov then pointed to the spot after half an hour but reversed his decision to award Leverkusen a penalty for handball by Jaroslav Zeleny. Bayer 04 quickly put that behind them, though, and forged ahead when Jeremie Frimpong teed up Wirtz to finish into the bottom left corner. As things stood, the Bundesliga champions were up to sixth in the table.
The first chance after the break fell to probably Prague’s best player in Victor Olatunji, but the Werkself then retook control of proceedings and got a second just after the hour mark. Alejandro Grimaldo’s free-kick was too hot to handle for Sparta goalkeeper Peter Vindahl, presenting Tella the opportunity to tuck away the rebound. It gave the Werkself a cushion in sixth place, which is where they ended up finishing thanks to their superior goal difference over Lille and Aston Villa on the back of a deserved 2-0 win.
By finishing in the top eight, Leverkusen avoid a play-off and go straight into the round of 16. The format from that stage continues as in previous years, with two legs (4/5 and 11/12 March), with the return fixture set to be played at the BayArena. The Werkself will discover their opponents following the play-offs when the draw for the last 16 is made on Friday, 21 February.
Bayer 04’s next two competitive fixtures are also in Leverkusen. First it’s Hoffenheim who come to town in the Bundesliga on Sunday (5.30pm CET) before the DFB Pokal quarter-final against Köln on Wednesday, 5 February (8.45pm).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Kovar - Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong (Arthur 88'), Palacios (Garcia 83'), Xhaka, Grimaldo - Wirtz (Hofmann 90'), Tella (Andrich 83') - Schick (Stepanov 90')
Sparta Prague: Vindahl - Vitik, Sevinsky, Sörensen - Wiesner (Suchomel 85'), Sadilek, Kairinen, Zeleny (Krasniqi 90'+3) - Laci (Danek 85') - Olatunji (Haraslin 67'), Birmancevic (Penxa 90'+3)
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (32'), 2'0 Tella (64')
Yellow cards: Xhaka, Andrich - Birmancevic, Olatunji
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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As well as internal changes and familiar faces, Bayer 04 are also looking to bring fresh impetus to the coaching staff of the senior youth squads for the 2026/27 campaign. Here is an overview of the U19, U17 and U16 teams.
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Bayer 04 have signed 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The Germany U17 international is joining the Werkself from the Berlin Bundesliga 2 club on a long-term contract. Eichhorn made 19 appearances for the Hertha Berlin first team last season, scoring two goals.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Kennet Eichhorn. Bayer 04 have signed the 16-year-old midfielder from Hertha Berlin. Read on to find out more about our new signing.
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