The headline in the Bild am Sonntag reads, 'Super sub Bailey saves the day' and reports: "Sometimes it's better to give yourself a present. Leon Bailey was 22 on Friday. Leverkusen's Jamaican scored seconds after coming off the bench on 72 minutes with a lob to make it 3-1 at Alemannia Aachen. Bailey's goal saved the day for the favourites."
The Cologne newspaper Express focuses on the scorer of the last goal. "The prodigal son rounds it off," was the headline. The text follows: "The first round clash between Aachen and Leverkusen in the DFB Cup was special as Kai Havertz was born in Aachen. And it's one of those stories you only find in football: On 88 minutes, the Leverkusen star scored with a low drive to make it 4-1 for the Werkself at the Tivoli. 'It was a bit tough at the start. In the end we ran out comfortable winners. That's all that counts,' said Bayer sporting managing director Rudi Völler."
The online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger assesses the action as follows: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen are through to the second round of the DFB Cup after a 4-1 win against Regional League Alemannia Aachen. An outstanding performance was not required on Saturday afternoon. And it seems rather doubtful if that would have been possible on the day. But you can’t do more than go through." Kai Havertz was named man of the match: "Pressed hard by close-marking opponents, the international player found it difficult to get into the game but he never gave up, was not rewarded with a penalty after he was fouled in the box, was unable to beat the outstanding keeper Cymer until he was able to round off the scoring at 4-1. He deserved that."
The Rheinische Post comes the following conclusion: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen are through to the second round of the DFB Cup. The Werkself ran out with a deserved 4-1 win at Regional League Alemannia Aachen on Saturday afternoon despite a short weak phase in the second half... Spurred on by the 30,861 spectators at a sold-out Tivoli, the hosts got stuck in straightaway, went into challenges up to the limits of the permissible and sometimes beyond that. That was dished out to players including the Aachen-born Kai Havertz and Charles Aránguiz. The Werkself played their possession game evident from last season but did not give anything away late on."
The Aachener Zeitung sums up the great atmosphere at the Tivoli and the resolute resistance of the hosts as follows: 'Aachen lose and are still winners.' The report continues: "Lost and still celebrating: Long after the final whistle, the Alemannia Aachen players were still doing their lap of honour at the Tivoli. The fans celebrated even if the 4-1 loss for the Black and Yellows against Bayer Leverkusen means going out of the DFB Cup. In spite of the defeat, the Regional League side Aachen were the winners – in terms of self-promotion."
The Kicker comes straight to the point: "Fourth division Alemannia Aachen put up a great fight against the Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen but had to settle with a 4-1 defeat in the end. An unfortunate own goal started the reverse at the Tivoli."
A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
Show moreAlejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreThe friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
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