The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports a "goal-packed training session" for the Black and Reds. Nadiem Amiri and Lucas Alario put the game "beyond any chance of excitement in no time at all" with the goals to make it 2-0 and 3-0. One young attacker for the Werkself was particularly impressive: "In the middle of all the lively passing and dribbling, it was the 17-year-old Florian Wirtz who was involved in practically every halfway dangerous attack."
The Kölnische Rundschau headline reads: "Leverkusen give nothing away." According to the newspaper, the Black and Reds were "clinical" in the first half hour and went on to play "in overdrive." The report continues: "Even after the shortest period of preparation for all participants on this weekend, Leverkusen did not wobble at any point."
Another journal describes the performance of the Werkself as a "successful afternoon of football." The Rheinische Post sees the goal from new signing Patrik Schick to make it 7-0 as the "icing on the cake" of this clash. Furthermore: "With the efficiency of the first half over the full 90 minutes, the game could have ended with a double-digit win." Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz received the best individual assessments.
According to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, the Werkself, playing against Norderstedt, "did not show any mercy for the fourth-tier visitors in the first 30 minutes." Bayer 04 have reached the next round "thanks to an impressive first half without any problems."
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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