The Werkself were initially focused at the start of the game and primarily impressed with good periods of possession and seamless moves. After impressive work in the build-up by Moussa Diaby and Robert Andrich, Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared to have broken the deadlock but it was chalked off due to a foul by Andrich earlier in the move. With five minutes to play before half-time, there was a hectic course of events: After another disallowed goal, this time for Porto's Mehdi Taremi, and a missed penalty from Patrik Schick, the two sides went into the break with the score at 0-0. After the restart, it was primarily the Portuguese champions who were on the front foot and they were rewarded with goals from substitutes Zaidu (69') at 1-0 and Galeno (87') at 2-0. HERE is the match report.
After the game, Gerardo Seoane summed up the performance of his team in the first half as "very complete." There was great effort and that led to the creation of qualitatively good situations. The 43-year-old coach did however admit: "But then we missed the opportunity to turn effort into goals."
Jonathan Tah also named efficiency as the crucial factor speaking to Werkself TV: "We started really well and produced an impressive performance and energy for long stretches. We should have got our reward," said the defender before adding: "I didn't feel in the second half that the team had less desire. But if you go all out the whole time and don't get a reward then it gets crazy in the end." But the aim is to take the energy from the first half into the forthcoming games: "There's still everything to play for in the Champions League. And if we succeed in landing a punch up front that I think we’ll be able to win our next league game at home to Schalke 04."
Jonathan Tah and Co. met up with a very familiar face in the match against Porto: Wendell moved on to Portugal from Bayer 04 in the summer of last year. The full-back joined the Werkself from the Brazilian club Grêmio Porto Alegre in the 2014/2015 season and he went on to play 250 games for the Black and Reds. The 29-year-old defender started for the opposition last night and he played for 63 minutes.
The numbers from the game: Porto with eleven shots on goal had two more than the Werkself (9). The Seoane team did have their noses in front in terms of possession with 57%. The same applied to pass completion: 84% of all passes found their target for the Werkself and the Portuguese had a return of 75%. The two teams were neck and neck in the number of challenges at 50% each.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung headline reads "crazy game." The EXPRESS describes the Leverkusen performance as "tough, committed – but beaten once again." The Leverkusener Anzeiger sums up the best chance in the first half as follows: After a polite opening quarter of an hour with the focus on avoiding mistakes, the Bayer support suddenly grew loud under the spectacular roof structure at the Estádio do Dragão. An impressive move by Moussa Diaby and Robert Andrich's precise cross to the far post ended with Callum Hudson-Odoi firing the ball under the bar." The second half was described as follows: "Porto shook off their reticence in the second half, attacked the Leverkusen defenders significantly earlier and provoked mistakes."
The Werkself head home from Porto today and there will be another training session in Leverkusen this afternoon. There will be training sessions over the next two days before Schalke 04 visit the BayArena on Bundesliga matchday nine on Saturday 8 October (kick-off: 15.30 CEST). The newly promoted team lost 3-2 against FC Augsburg last weekend. The Black and Reds play Porto next Wednesday 12 October (kick-off: 21.00 CEST) at home in the return match in the UEFA Champions League.
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Guéla Doué’s first 30 minutes in a Bayer 04 shirt during the draw away at Augsburg have definitely made the summer signing eager for more. The 23-year-old may have had to bide his time following his move from Strasbourg due to a muscular injury, but he’s been able to get a good taste of the BayArena atmosphere while watching from the stands in the home wins over Celje and RB Leipzig, as the Ivory Coast international explained in a chat with media representatives. “The fans’ enthusiasm and passion are incredible,” said Doué, looking forward to what lies ahead. The defender also spoke about his plans for a comeback, his teammates and his younger brother Désiré.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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