Werkself review #B04VIL: ‘A major interim goal’ achieved with a lot of control

Summary: Dominance, brace and progress

The Black and Reds were alert and aggressive right from the start, pressing high and exploiting the uncertainties in the Villarreal defence twice with goals from Malik Tillman (12', 35'). Time and again, the industrious Ibrahim Maza inspired the Leverkusen attack, while behind him Aleix Garcia and Ezequiel Fernández pulled the strings and nipped any moves by the Yellow Submarine in the bud. Bayer 04 found space down the wings - and it was a cross from wing back Lucas Vázquez that found Alejandro Grimaldo to seal the win with a volley (57'). With the help of Exequiel Palacios, making his first UCL appearance this season, and Edmond Tapsoba, who played in his first game of 2026 after recovering from injury, the Werkself took their comfortable lead to the finish line and can now look forward to the next chapter in the UCL. Their opponents in the play-off round, to be drawn on Friday, 30 January, at 12:00 CET, will either be Borussia Dortmund or - as in the league phase - Olympiacos.

• Match report
• Macth highlights
• Full match

Reaction: "This is our way of playing football"

"We were very focussed and had great control throughout, but also intensity going forward. That's our way of playing football," summarised a satisfied head coach Kasper Hjulmand and added: "We've reached the play-off phase, which was a major interim goal this season." The Dane called Tillman a "top player with super technique and a lot of intelligence", but he was also pleased about other players: "Pala and Eddy (Exequiel Palacios and Edmond Tapsoba, ed.) are back and things are looking good for the next few games."

For two-time goalscorer Tillman himself, it was "a successful night". He also had to smile about his unusual first goal: "We wanted to press high and that happens from time to time. Of course, it's also a bit lucky that the ball goes in." When asked about the potential opponents in the play-offs, Tillman was combative: "We still have unfinished business with both of them."

Captain Robert Andrich was not only pleased with the three Werkself goals: "We kept a clean sheet - that's always nice for us defenders." He was not surprised by his team's dominance. "We were very quick out of the blocks, kept winning the ball and didn't let them get into dangerous situations," said Andrich: "That's why it was a convincing win in the end."

What the papers say: "Leverkusen clearly on top"

The Rheinische Post agrees and describes the Werkself's success as "commanding" and "highly deserved" - the kicker confirms: "Leverkusen clearly on top". Meanwhile, the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger saw Tillman's "best performance in a Leverkusen jersey". The Kölnische Rundschau was equally enthusiastic about the double goalscorer: "Tillman makes Bayer Leverkusen happy."

Personnel: Two comebacks and a squad debut

The comebacks of Exequiel Palacios and Edmond Tapsoba accompanied goalkeeper Jonas Omlin being on the Black and Red bench for the first time. It was also the Swiss player's squad debut in a Champions League match.

Malik Tillman promptly extended his debut goal for Bayer 04 in the Champions League scoring his first brace in a Werkself jersey. The set up by Patrik Schick for the second goal was his first ever assist in this competition. And perennial favourite Alejandro Grimaldo continues to be Leverkusen's top scorer in the UCL - the Spaniard has scored just as often in his last four top-flight matches as in the 14 before that.

Stats: Controlled display for first UCL home win

In the fifth game against the Yellow Submarine, the Werkself finally managed their first win - and how: A total of 65 per cent, and at times even over 75 per cent, possession, 56 per cent of duels won and a pass completion rate of 93 per cent show how dominant and in control the Black and Reds were throughout the match. With a little more fortune, one or two more of Leverkusen's 15 shots could have found their way into the Villarreal net. But even so, many Bayer 04 fans and, above all, head coach Hjulmand will have taken a small load off their minds, as it was the first Werkself home win in the UCL this term.

Coming up: Play-off draw on Friday

Which team the Werkself will face in the play-offs for a place in the UCL Round of 16 will be decided in the draw on Friday, 30 January, from 12:00 CET. It will be one of the two teams in 17th and 18th place in the league table: Olympiacos and Borussia Dortmund. The first leg will be played away on 17 or 18 February, with the second leg taking place on 24 or 25 February at the BayArena.

The Werkself have another big game coming up in the Bundesliga: On Saturday, 31 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET), Leverkusen are away to Eintracht Frankfurt. Anyone who does not yet have tickets and would like to support Hjulmand's team in Frankfurt can apply for tickets HERE. The following Tuesday, 3 February, Leverkusen face FC St. Pauli at the BayArena for a place in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal with the kick-off at 20:45 CET.