Head coach Kasper Hjulmand kept faith with the team that started in the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the BayArena a week ago.
As expected, it was a hard-fought contest from the off in North London, with both teams showing high concentration and anxious to avoid mistakes. The first notable chance fell to the hosts, but Gabriel's header from a right-wing corner missed the target (9'). A quarter of an hour was played when Janis Blaswich saved Leandro Trossard's powerful effort, which was heading for the corner of the net. Six minutes later, Gabriel again headed wide. Blaswich was kept busy as the hosts increasingly pressed for the first goal, showing outstanding feet to deny both Trossard (29') and Ben White (32').
However, the in-form Leverkusen keeper was powerless in the 36th minute, when Eberechi Eze fired a half-volley into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. Even after the goal, the Werkself found it difficult to break free from the Arsenal pressure and launch their own attacks, and so they went in a goal down at the break.
The Werkself battled on in the second half and had significantly more possession now, but still couldn't find the crucial gaps in the Gunners' defence. Hjulmand brought Montrell Culbreath and Malik Tillman into the attack in the 59th minute, but it was the hosts who created the next big opportunities. Viktor Gyökeres missed his but Declan Rice made it 2-0 moments later, curling the ball into the bottom right corner (63'). Mikel Arteta also turned to his bench now, bringing on Kai Havertz among others. The ex-Leverkusen man found the net straight away but the goal was chalked off because of a handball by the Germany international beforehand (71').
The Werkself didn't lose heart and tried everything in the closing stages. Gabriel nearly headed a corner from Alejandro Grimaldo into his own net (74'), before Jarell Quansah headed wide from Culbreath's well-timed cross (77'). The best chance fell to Christian Kofane when he was set up by Culbreath in the 87th minute, but Arsenal custodian David Raya stopped it with his fingertips. It finished 2-0 and Bayer 04 exited the Champions League.
The Werkself are away to Heidenheim this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off 15:30 CET), on Bundesliga Matchday 27. After that there's an international break, when several Bayer 04 players will be heading off to their respective national teams.
Match stats:
Arsenal: Raya – White (Mosquera 68'), Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie – Rice, Zubimendi (Norgaard 68')– Saka, Eze (Havertz 68'), Trossard (Martinelli 68') – Gyökeres (Lewis-Skelly 49')
Bayer 04: Blaswich – Quansah, Andrich (Fernández 83'), Tapsoba – Poku (Culbreath 59'), Palacios (Schick 68'), Garcia, Grimaldo – Terrier (Tillman 59'), Maza – Kofane
Yellow cards: Palacios
Goals: 1-0 Eze (36'), 2-0 Rice (63')
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Attendance: 59,743 at Arsenal Stadium
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
Show more
In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
Show more
