
"The Cup dream of Bayer 04 Leverkusen sank without trace in the mud of Essen," declares the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger at the start of their match report. "The Bundesliga side with big Champions League ambitions and dreams of the title had to accept a 2-1 defeat in extra time against fourth division Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB Cup Round of 16."
"A football miracle that really hurts Leverkusen," says BILD – and adds: "It should never have gone into extra time. It’s hard to believe it was 0-0 after 90 minutes."
This is unravelled in the Rheinische Post, which presents the following analysis taking account of Leverkusen's 3-5-2 system: "The attacking approach was evident: In the first half-hour alone, the Werkself produced a handful of good chances. But Bayer did not find the back of the net."
"Leverkusen obviously had more and better chances," reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung. "Patrik Schick put a header against the post (24'), Charles Aránguiz tested Davari (29') and Moussa Diaby shot just wide in added time in the first half."
The WAZ also highlights the outstanding goalkeeper for the Red and Whites on the night. "Davari continually surpassed himself over the course of the game," praises the newspaper. "He parried Edmond Tapsoba's header (51') and Bailey's low shot (60'). The game was a case of: Davari against Leverkusen. The Regional League side were unable to break free."
In the view of the Frankfurter Rundschau, the Regional League side had "immense luck just before the end of the 90 minutes," when Bayer 04 hit the post twice in one move. "Then came extra time that saw Essen sensationally continue their fairy tale success."
"Bayer appeared to be on course after Bailey's goal," reports the EXPRESS, "But Essen showed incredible morale" – and also survived the final VAR intervention after the winner. "There were heated discussions because Essen's Felix Herzenbruch pulled Jeremie Frimpong's shirt inside his own penalty area. Referee Daniel Schlager (31) looked at the incident on the monitor – and awarded the goal."

The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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