Werkself review #B04SAL: ‘Build on this level’

Summary: Dominant from start to finish

The Werkself controlled the game from the kick-off. After a first effort on goal from Florian Wirtz on two minutes, the playmaker opened the scoring from the penalty spot on eight minutes. Shortly after that, Alejandro Grimaldo hit a free kick into the back of the net (11'). And then it was Wirtz who scored again. The playmaker made it 3-0 after an impressive run with the ball (31’). The Black and Reds continued to play attractive football in the second half: Jeremie Frimpon provided the assist for Patrik Schick to put the Werkself 4-0 up and then the scoring was completed with Aleix Garcia finding the back of the net to make it 5-0 in a victory that was never in doubt. A young trio also celebrated their Champions League debuts (more on that under Personnel). The match report is HERE.

Reaction: "Powerful display"

Head coach Xabi Alonso said after the game: "We are very happy with the result and the performance. We felt good from the first minute and showed good energy on the pitch. And the support from the stands helped us very much today. Now we've had two very good games against Salzburg and Heidenheim and we want to build on that level."

Florian Wirtz said: "I'm happy we won and had a good game. I hope we can repeat that next time. Champions League nights are always something special and we always try to give our all. That worked well against Salzburg." Robert Andrich summed up after the final whistle: "We were aggressive from the start and we wanted to start with a bang. We produced a powerful display." And Arthur said: "We were well prepared for the match and knew that the opponents had a young side. I'm very happy that everybody had a good game."

What the papers say: "Sharp, combative and good from the start"

The sports journal kicker reported a "standout performance" and a "demolition" for FC Salzburg who "went down without a shout." The report did note that the penalty for the Black and Reds early on was "debatable" and that it "helped set up the goal fest" for Leverkusen. A shot from Patrik Schick hit the FC Salzburg player Samson Baidoo on his knee and bounced up onto his arm but the referee Mykola Balakin decided to award a penalty.

The Bild writes: "In spite of personnel problems, Leverkusen were simply sharp, combative and good from the start. It's a strong reminder of Bayer from the double winning season." The Frankfurter Rundschau reports: "Leverkusen shine. 5-0 victory over Salzburg brings joy."

Personnel: Lots of firsts and an outstanding Wirtz

Florian Wirtz, who is playing in the Champions League for the first time this season, clearly feels at home in Europe's premier club competition: The playmaker has already scored five goals in five games – more than any other Werkself player. The 21-year-old midfielder is also the first German player in the history of the Champions league to score five goals in his first five appearances. He was also again named Man of the Match for the third time in his fifth game. The playmaker in response: "I'm very happy I could get the two goals and be Man at the Match. But I know the lads on the pitch really helped me and I'm grateful for that."

Wirtz, who was given top marks in the Rheinische Post, also provided his first assist in the UCL in addition to his two goals when he set up Garcia to make it 5-0 on 72 minutes. It was the first goal for the Spaniard in the Champions League, the best provider in the competition this season is Frimpong. The Dutchman has provided two assists and he set up Schick for the fourth goal against Salzburg. That was goal number eight for the Czechia international – that is only beaten at the Werkself by Wirtz (nine goals).

There were also firsts for several players: Arthur plus the two U19 players Artem Stepanov and Francis Onyeka played their first minutes in the Champions League. Alonso on Stepanov and Onyeka: "They will remember this game for a long time. They got their chance today and it was important to make them feel good when they make their first appearance." Arthur said on his UCL debut: "Playing in the Champions League was a childhood dream." My family in Brazil watched the game and I've had lots of messages. I've already phoned my parents and they were very proud of me. That means everything to me!"

Stats: Black and Reds love the first half 

Bayer 04 broke a minor record with a double whammy in the opening stages of the game: The Werkself scored two goals in the first eleven minutes of a Champions League match for the first time. It is the earliest two-goal lead for the Werkself in the UCL. The Werkself appear to particularly thrive in the first half: The Black and Reds have scored eight goals in the first 45 minutes in the last five matches – only Barcelona have more (ten). In addition, Leverkusen have kept a clean sheet in the first half in four of the last five games. Here the Black and Reds are second only to Inter Milan (five).

With this win, Bayer 04 are unbeaten on the European stage in the last eleven home games. And with ten points from the first five matches the Werkself are having their best Champions League season since 2001 – back then they picked up twelve points from the first five games.

And here are the stats for #B04SAL: Bayer 04 dominated possession (62.4 to 37.6%), had the better pass completion rate (89.5 to 85.5%) and had more shots on goal (29 to 7). The Black and Reds were superior in almost all areas and are now in fifth place in the UCL table.

Outlook: In Berlin and then Munich

The Werkself now have two away games. The Black and Reds are away to Union Berlin on Saturday, 30 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET). That is followed three days later by a visit to the Allianz Arena in Munich for the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich. The game on Tuesday, 3 December, kicks off at 20.45 CET.