Werkself review #BrestB04: The expected tricky game in France

Summary: Wirtz goal not enough

Xabi Alonso made eight changes to the team that started the previous weekend’s 2-1 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and Leverkusen started very well in Guingamp. The first chance of note came in the 24th minute and was duly taken by Wirtz as he put away Jonas Hofmann’s assist. However, the advantage lasted only a quarter of an hour until Pierre Lees-Melou levelled for the hosts. The Bundesliga champions nearly went back ahead through an own goal from Massadio Haidara, but that was the extent of the chances in the second half. Read more about the game in our report HERE.

Reaction: “Need to accept it now”

Jonathan Tah said after the game: “We wanted to win, but in the end it’s just a point. Obviously that hurts a bit straight after the final whistle, but we need to accept it now. It was a hard fight. Brest did well.” Hofmann also added: “We lost the ball too quickly in the second half, giving the opponent and their fans the feeling that they could get something against us.”

Alonso said in summary: “We did very well up until the equaliser. We had control. Conceding then made us uncertain. There was then a period where we lacked concentration. There were some losses of possession and lack of concentration. We need to learn from that for next time.” The Spaniard also commented on the foul on Amine Adli: “Amine took a knock to his ankle. Everyone saw in his reaction that it was very painful. It doesn’t look good. We need to wait and see the results. It’s the worst news of the day.”

What the papers say: “Battling French”

“It wasn’t a party at Brest, but plenty of refereeing frustration!” was the Bild’s take on events. In kicker they said: “The game became much more emotional after a controlled first half.” The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger summarised: “The result is fair against the battling French after a poor second half from Leverkusen.” The Rheinische Post added: “Sturm Graz (2-1 loss) and Red Bull Salzburg (4-0 loss) had already learned in the Champions League this season that games against Brest are far from a pleasure. Now it was the turn of Germany’s double winners in Bayer Leverkusen to try and inflict a first European defeat on the club from Brittany. They didn’t manage that, with the French side claiming a 1-1 draw.”

Personnel: Wirtz again, Kovar’s UCL debut

Matej Kovar got his first taste of Champions League football in this game as Hofmann also got to make his 50th competitive appearance for Bayer 04, setting up the goal to mark the occasion for…

…Wirtz, of course. The third Champions League game of his career and the third time the 21-year-old has made it 1-0 for Leverkusen. And it was his third Player of the Match award from UEFA as well. Wirtz is only the fourth German player to score three goals from his first three Champions League, after Fredi Bobic, Carsten Jancker and Thomas Müller.

And the Wirtz numbers don’t stop there. Since his European club debut in August 2020, he’s been directly involved in more goals than any other German player (27 – 15 goals, 12 assists). Only Ulf Kirsten has scored more European goals for Bayer 04 (30). And to further underline the level Wirtz is at: He’s only the fifth player born since 2000 to score 15 goals in European competitions, joining Phil Foden, Rodrygo, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior on that list.

Stats: First concession of 2024/25

It took until Matchday 3 of this Champions League campaign for a team to score past the Werkself. Leverkusen themselves had eight shots against Brest, which was the team’s lowest total of this European season. However, Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in their last five Champions League fixtures (W2, D3), which is the club’s best run since going eight between November 2015 and December 2016.

The team also extended their unbeaten run away from home in all competitions to 31 matches (W24, D7), which is the longest ever by a Bundesliga club.

Alonso’s men had 59 percent possession, won 54 percent of challenges and had the better pass completion (89 percent vs. 84 percent), but were edged on the shot count by 11-8.

Outlook: Bremen away, Elversberg at home

Leverkusen return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Werder Bremen (6.30pm CEST). They then continue the defence of their DFB Pokal title with a second-round game at home to Elversberg on Tuesday (kick-off: 6pm CET).