Head coach Xabi Alonso made two changes to his starting line-up compared with last Friday’s 3-1 win against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga: Robert Andrich replaced Aleix Garcia in midfield and Amine Adli started up front in place of Victor Boniface.
Bayer 04 were on the front foot from the start. Jonathan Tah had the first attempt on goal from a corner with the defender heading against the bar (3'). A few minutes later, Adli almost intercepted a back pass to the Arminia keeper Jonas Kersken but the shot-stopper was just able to clear the danger. Leverkusen were on top in the following minutes with the hosts rarely gaining possession. Tah then broke the deadlock from another corner: The ball was headed on to the Germany international at the far post and he tucked it home from short range for the opener on 17 minutes. But Arminia hit straight back: Piero Hincapie failed to clear in the penalty area from Noah Sarenren Bazee with the ball coming to Wörl to level the score at 1-1 (20').
On 26 minutes there was another duel between Hincapie and Sarenren Bazee in the Leverkusen penalty area with the Bielefeld player winning out – but Lukas Hradecky prevented the hosts taking the lead with an outstanding save. Arminia Bielefeld upped their game while the Black and Reds found it difficult to break through the stiff Arminia defence. It looked like the two teams are going into half-time level until Bielefeld had a last free kick before the break from the left that was converted by Maximilian Großer putting Bayer 04 2-1 down.
The second 45 minutes were also initially very tough from a Black and Red perspective with Schick and his fellow striker Boniface, who came off the bench on 53 minutes, unable to break through. The Werkself lacked ideas up front. So it was the hosts that nearly scored again: Joel Grodowski hit a low shot went just past the target (69'). Nordi Mukiele did at least briefly reinvigorate the Leverkusen game: The defender almost headed home from a free kick but the Bielefeld keeper Kersken was able to make the save (75’). Schick had a chance on 81 minutes with another header but this one unfortunately hit the post. With the clock running down, the Werkself were unable to create any more chances. The result is Bayer 04 are out of the DFB Pokal.
Bayer 04 are back in action on Saturday, 5 April, with the next away game: FC Heidenheim host the Werkself on Bundesliga Matchday 28 with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. Union Berlin visit the BayArena a week later. The kick-off on Saturday, 12 April, is also at 15:30 CEST.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Palacios (Boniface 53'), Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Schick, Adli (Tella 77’)
Bielefeld: Kersken -Schneider, Russo, Großer - Hagmann, Schreck (Young 90 +3’), Corboz, Oppie - Sarenren Bazee (Felix 90+3’), Wörl - Grodowski (Biankadi 84’)
Goals: 0-1 Tah (17’), 1-1 Wörl (20’), 2-1 Großer (45+3’)
Yellow cards: Grodowski, Schreck, Russo - Mukiele, Hincapie, Boniface, Tella, Grimaldo
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)
Attendance: 26,601 (sold out) at the SchücoArena
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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