Matchday one in the VBL CC started at 18.00 against Hamburg SV, last season's runners-up in the North West division. The match – as with all other fixtures this season, was decided in a best-of-three format. The 2 vs 2 game came first with Marc ‘MARC_LDW23’ Landwehr and Furkan ‘FURKY’ Kayacik on the controllers for Leverkusen against the Hamburg players Daniel ‘HSV_Daniel7’ Dwelk and Steffen ‘Funino’ Pöppe. The game ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Black and Reds.
It was advantage to HSV ahead of the second game although Landwehr was able to secure a 2-0 victory over Hamburg's Dwelk in the 1 vs 1 match. The decider came in the third game between Kayacik and Pöppe with the clash ending in a 2-0 defeat for Leverkusen. That meant HSV were the overall winners and they picked up their first three points of the season.
The second matchday against Holstein Kiel followed later in the evening. The Storks also suffered defeat in their first match against FC Hansa Rostock. The game between the Black and Reds and the Kiel side started with a 2 vs 2 encounter with Landwehr and Kayacik taking on the two Storks Colin ‘COOOLLIIIN’ Völter and Florian ‘IROYALDYNASTY’ Wilhelm. The 2 vs 2 game also ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Black and Reds.
To avoid an early overall defeat, a win was required in the following 1 vs 1 game – and that was provided by Landwehr against Kiel's Jeffrey ‘JEFFREY6TH’ Aninkorah. The Leverkusen players clocked up an emphatic 7-1 victory. The decider again came in the third match with Leverkusen's Mario ‘BULJI’ Lovrinovic taking on Kiel’s Völter in a 1 vs 1 game. After Lovrinovic initially went behind, the 19-year-old turned the game round to win 2-1 and thereby secure the first three points of the season for the #B04eSports team.
The Leverkusen team are fifth in the North West division after the first two matchdays. The #B04eSports team are next in action on Saturday 19 November on matchdays three and four: Leverkusen start at 15.30 CET against VfL Bochum and that is followed at 17.00 CET by the meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Results from matchdays 1 and 2:
Hamburg SV vs Bayer 04 (0 points)
Two vs two: 4-1
Dwelk against Landwehr: 0-2
Pöppe against Kayacik: 2-0
Bayer 04 vs Holstein Kiel (3 points)
Two vs two: 1-4
Landwehr against Aninkorah: 7-1
Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
Show more
A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
Show more
This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
Show more
Bayer 04 have signed left-back Carolin Simon from champions Bayern Munich for the coming season. The 33-year-old former Germany international, who played for Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016, has signed a contract to 30 June 2028.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women have strengthened for the coming season with the signing of Lobke Loone. The 23-year-old Dutch striker joins from Utrecht on a contract until 30 June 2028.
Show more
