Werkself review #B04ELV: Through to Round of 16 thanks to focused performance

Summary: A brace and then a wonder goal

With eight changes to the starting XI, the Werkself made a flying start: Patrik Schick netted a brace on two and nine minutes putting his team in a very good position for the rest of the game. At the half-hour mark, the Werkself had 75% possession and four efforts on goal without reply from Elversberg. Before half-time, Aleix Garcia made it 3-0 with an impressive free kick (36') for his first goal for Bayer 04. There was not much action in front of goal after the restart. The visitors from the Saarland retained the ball at times but their attacking moves mostly broke down in front of Kovar's penalty area. The second half was uneventful with the Werkself remaining focused to the end as they sealed a very comfortable win without any problems. HERE is the match report.

Reaction: "Job done"

Man of the Match Patrik Schick summed up the game succinctly after the final whistle: "The first half was particularly good and we can build on that. Now the Bundesliga is coming up again and we want the three points against Stuttgart. Preparations start now." Jonas Hofmann added: "We had a job to do and we did it. Some people say the game was too slow. All that matters in the Pokal is going through and we did that today successfully and comfortably."

Head coach Xabi Alonso declared: "We wanted to go through to the next round and we did it. Therefore we are happy. We were able to use several players who haven't had many minutes recently. They all did a good job." In response to a question, the Spaniard said about Patrik Schick: "He scored two goals in his typical way. He's very intelligent in the box. I always enjoy strikers scoring goals – and today particularly so for Patrik."

What the papers say: Top marks for Schick

The Rheinische Post headline reads: "Bayer run rings round Elversberg," the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger "Job comfortably completed." Patrik Schick received top marks from the KStA and all the other players who started were close behind. For the Kölnische Rundschau it was an "Autumn stroll into the third round." The Bild-Zeitung report focused on the impressive goal from a free kick scored by Aleix Garcia: "That free kick was good enough to win a title!" The kicker highlighted the input from Jonas Hofmann: "Bayer 04 comfortably did their job against second division SV Elversberg. In the 3-0 victory, several squad players had the chance to show what they can do on the pitch. Jonas Hofmann led the way – in a new role."

Personnel: Schick at the double - debut for homegrown player

Patrik Schick scored the first of his two goals on the night after exactly 74 seconds – quicker than any other player up to this point in the current DFB Pokal campaign. The Czechia international also ensured that the Werkself have now always scored at least one goal in the last 33 matches. The two-goal hero was named Man of the Match.

While Schick clocked up his 57th goal for Bayer 04 in the tie against Augsburg, and thereby makes it into the top ten of the all-time Leverkusen goalscorers, new signing Aleix Garcia netted his first goal in a Werkself jersey – with an extremely impressive free kick into the top corner. Bayer 04 Club members can watch the highlights HERE!

Other good news: Francis Onyeka came off the bench on 86 minutes to make his debut for the first team. The 17-year-old midfielder has been at Bayer 04 since he was seven years old. "Francis has earned this chance, he has developed well in the U19s. He will remember this night for a long time. It was only for a few minutes but playing alongside lads like Flo, Boni and Grimaldo – that's important for him." His U19 teammate Kerim Alajbegovic, also 17 years old, was in the senior matchday squad for the first time. Carry on lads!

Stats: Significantly more possession for the Black and Reds

The Werkself dominated proceedings on the pitch with more than two thirds of the possession. They were also slightly ahead in challenges (53%) and pass completion (91% to 86%). The team from the Saarland had more efforts on goal in the second half and ended up with a total of 13 (Bayer 04: ten) but they were unable to convert their chances.

Outlook: Stuttgart, Liverpool and Bochum before international break

The Werkself next have a crunch encounter in the Bundesliga at the BayArena: The visitors on Friday, 1 November (kick-off: 2030 CET) are VfB Stuttgart. The third week with double fixtures then takes Bayer 04 away from home, first to Liverpool (5 November, 21.00 CET) and then VfL Bochum (9 November, 15.30 CET).