The Werkself were focused from the start and the opposition keeper Simon Mignolet was able to keep out the first chances for Leverkusen. Bayer 04 almost scored in the middle of the first half but the Belgian keeper saved a shot from a tight angle by Moussa Diaby (33'). The first half ended goalless. The second 45 got off to a frenetic start with a number of clear-cut chances for both sides. However, the keepers denied chance after chance in this phase of the game. After that, neither team was able to achieve much in attack and the Werkself focused on a solid defensive performance – with success: The team under Xabi Alonso ended up with a clean sheet, thereby picking up a point and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League with the help of Porto. The Black and Reds ended the Champions League group stage in third place with five points. Porto won the group ahead of Club Brugge. Atlético Madrid dropped down to fourth place. The match report on #B04CLU is HERE.
"To be honest, I only realised we'd qualified for the Europa League at the end. I thought we had to win right up to the final minutes. Of course, I'm very happy about going through to the Europa League," said Robert Andrich making clear his joy in an interview with Werkself TV. The midfielder did however express some critical words: "It definitely wasn't a brilliant game. We didn't make the most of our chances. We rarely completed the final and penultimate pass. We have to keep on working on that."
Nadiem Amiri also shared his joy on qualifying for the Europa League in interview with Werkself TV: "It was a balanced game and fortunately the draw was enough. We played well in defence but we have to continue working hard on the offensive side to create chances and then to take them."
It was striking how the coach Alonso rotated six positions for the game against Club Brugge compared with the 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig: Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Daley Sinkgraven, Adam Hlozek, Amine Adli, Nadiem Amiri plus the suspended Piero Hincapie were replaced by Odilon Kossounou, Jeremie Frimpong, Mitchel Bakker, Patrik Schick, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Exequiel Palacios. This was the first time Alonso played the 24-year-old Palacios in the current Champions League campaign. The Argentinian was sidelined in the middle of September due to a thigh injury. The midfielder played his first match in the Bundesliga under coach Alonso in last weekend's game against Leipzig – he made a 30-minutes appearance against RB. Palacios was now in the starting line-up for the first time since the 2010 World Cup winner has been in the Werkself dugout.
Leverkusen defenders received the best marks in the Rheinische Post reflecting the course of the game and the result: Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba and Robert Andrich were all highly rated. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger gave their top mark to skipper Lukas Hradecky.
The KStA described the match as a "poor 0-0". The media mainly focused on the few clear-cut chances for both sides. There were goalscoring opportunities that were really dangerous but few in number. The Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung talks about a "less impressive footballing" display, SPORT1 an "uninspired" performance.
The Werkself had the greater number of shots on goal (13 to 8). The match was however a balanced affair: Leverkusen had a better pass completion rate and the majority of possession with the Belgian side standing out with a greater number of challenges.
The next game for the Werkself is on Bundesliga matchday 13. The Alonso team entertain league leaders Union Berlin on Sunday 6 November. The match against the Irons kicks off at 15.30 CET. That is followed three days later by the derby at FC Köln. That match starts at 18.30 CEST. The Black and Reds are at home to VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on Bundesliga matchday 15. It is the final competitive match of the year for the Werkself with a 15.30 CET kick-off on Saturday 12 November.
In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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The Germany U19 team were beaten 2-0 by record champions Spain in the final of the U19 European Championship in Wales. Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan at SV 07 Elversberg) were in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes.
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