Werkself review #SVSB04: Staying on track

Summary: Focussed to the end

Head coach Xabi Alonso rotated his squad for the cup tie: The Spaniard made eight changes to the starting line-up – including the introduction of Amine Adli who had the first chance on 40 seconds. The Werkself went on to dominate the game after that and were awarded a penalty on 21 minutes for a foul on Adli in the box by Sandhausen player Alexander Fuchs. The spot kick was converted by Exequiel Palacios to give the Black and Reds a deserved 1-0 lead. The hosts started the second half on the front foot and Christoph Ehlich levelled the scores on 50 minutes. The game took off after that: Jonathan Tah restored the lead four minutes later with a header from a free kick only for SVS to equalise again also with a header, this time from Yassin Ben Balla. In a hard-fought end to the game it was Adam Hlozek who put the Werkself back in front with a striker's finish from close range (85'). Adli then wrapped up the tie with a brace (87', 90+2’). The match report is HERE.

Reaction: "Picking up wins like that builds confidence"

Alonso summed up the game as follows: "Of course, we are happy to go through. It was a typical cup tie. Sandhausen pressed us well and scored two goals. But we fought back in the end and won." But he added: "Every game is a lesson for us, this one too. We need more concentration at set pieces and we have to be stronger, above all in challenges – we will try to resolve that. We almost have no time to train and recover but we will be ready again on Saturday."

Nadiem Amiri said in summing up: "You just have to win games like that and we did it. We knew beforehand it would be a very tough game. Victories like that are enormously important because if you pick up wins like that – and we didn't do that last season – then confidence builds as well."

What the papers say: "Leverkusen clinical"

The Bild headline reads: "Alonso's subs save Leverkusen in Sandhausen: Just about then easily in the end!" And the Express draws the following pithy conclusion: "Sandhausen close, Leverkusen clinical." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger report read: "Bayer 04 make it hard going against Sandhausen – the stars have to put it right. Leverkusen only secured a 5-2 win away to third division SV Sandhausen after the introduction of four regular starters."

Personnel: 3,000 fans on the road again

The quadruple substitution on 64 minutes had a great influence as Alonso describes: "We have a good bench and the pitch was heavy so it wasn't easy. I'm convinced we need the whole squad and that we have to rotate. The players from the bench had a big influence on the game today."

The Spanish coach also talked about the late absence of Patrik Schick: "Hopefully it's just something minor with Patrik. It's not unusual for something like that to happen after a serious injury. I hope he'll be back soon and we are waiting for him."

And: 3,000 fans followed the team to the GP Stadium am Hardtwald on Wednesday night and again provided outstanding support and atmosphere at the game – thank you!

Stats: Club record equalled

The stats show the Werkself dominated the match. Adli and Co. had 30 shots on the goal minded by the SVS keeper Nikolai Rehnen with Sandhausen having eleven efforts on goal. Bayer 04 have scored in all of their last 28 DFB Pokal ties with no other team currently having such a long similar run in this competition. The Black and Reds had 73% possession in the game. The pass completion rate was 90% (Sandhausen: 67%).

And that is not all: The Werkself have equalled a club record from 2013 with the ninth win on the bounce. There was once a run of 14 games unbeaten back in the 1995/1996 season.

Outlook: Another away game

The Werkself have hardly any time to rest this week: Bayer 04 again head south to the Rhine-Neckar region in two days on Bundesliga matchday 10 to play TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 4 November. The kick-off at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim is at 15.30 CET.