Head coach Xabi Alonso made five changes to his starting line-up from the 3-1 victory at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach, naming the same team that started in the last Champions League game, the 1-0 win over Inter Milan. The Werkself took control of possession in the early stages, while Atletico waited for quick counter-attack opportunities. Exequiel Palacios registered the first attempt of the evening with a long-range shot (5'), but further goalscoring chances in the opening quarter of an hour failed to materialise.
The ball landed in the net for the first time in the 19th minute, but the effort from Nathan Tella didn't count as Alejandro Grimaldo, who supplied the assist, was stood offside. Soon after that, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made strong saves from Florian Wirtz (20') and Tella (22'). The Werkself were pushing and just a few minutes later, referee Davide Massa changed Pablo Barrios' card from yellow to red after reviewing his hard tackle on Nordi Mukiele, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Granit Xhaka fired off the next attempt (31'). Just as it looked like the first half would end goalless, the German double winners struck. Mukiele sent a deep cross towards the far post, where Piero Hincapie was in the right place to head in the opening goal (45'+1) and give his team a fully deserved lead at the break.
Bayer 04 began the second period with Patrik Schick on in place of Mukiele but conceded the equaliser soon after the restart. Julian Alvarez collected a long ball, fended off Jonathan Tah and then Grimaldo before finishing into the far corner (52'). Lifted by that goal, Atletico seized the iniative, helped by a number of mistakes from the Werkself in possession. It remained a frantic, physical and intense contest - but the next chances were a while coming at both ends. At the fired-up Metropolitano, the next excitement came in the 75th minute when Hincapie was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Like the first half, it looked for a long time like ending in a draw - but this time it was Atletico who had other ideas. Alvarez again rounded goalkeeper Matej Kovar and netted the winning goal for the Rojiblancos from a tight angle (90').
Bayer 04 are on their travels again this weekend. On Matchday 19 of the Bundesliga, the Werkself visit RB Leipzig on Saturday 25 January (kick-off 15:30 CET). That's followed by two home fixtures: against Sparta Prague in the final UCL league game (remaining tickets available here) and then TSG Hoffenheim.
Match stats:
Atletico: Oblak - Molina, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan (Reinildo 46') - Llorente, De Paul, Barrios, Simeone (Lino 87') - Alvarez (Le Normand 90'+2 ), Griezmann (Correa 87')
Bayer 04: Kovar - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Mukiele (Schick 46'), Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - Frimpong (Arthur 81'), Wirtz (Garcia 89') - Tella (Hofmann 68')
Goals: 0-1 Hincapie (45'+1), 1-1 Alvarez (52'), 2-1 Alvarez (90')
Yellow cards: Gimenez, Molina, Simeone / Wirtz, Tella
Second yellow cards: Hincapie
Red cards: Barrios
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
Attendance: 70,460 (sold out) at the Estadio Metropolitano
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Guéla Doué’s first 30 minutes in a Bayer 04 shirt during the draw away at Augsburg have definitely made the summer signing eager for more. The 23-year-old may have had to bide his time following his move from Strasbourg due to a muscular injury, but he’s been able to get a good taste of the BayArena atmosphere while watching from the stands in the home wins over Celje and RB Leipzig, as the Ivory Coast international explained in a chat with media representatives. “The fans’ enthusiasm and passion are incredible,” said Doué, looking forward to what lies ahead. The defender also spoke about his plans for a comeback, his teammates and his younger brother Désiré.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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