
Four and a half months after the Grand Final, where ‘DETO’ was named best PlayStation player of the year, started the 2020/21 VBL season on Monday night. For the opening fixture, Bayer 04, as yet without the new duo Anna Klink and Marc Landwehr, faced Holstein Kiel in the North-West section.
‘DETO’ was keen to get on the attack against Kiel’s Cihat ‘CIHAT6161’ Korkmaz in a one-on-one on PlayStation 4 and he was awarded a penalty on five virtual minutes. The two-time world champion missed the spot kick but shortly after that he took an early lead through Moussa Diaby (12’). After an equaliser from Korkmaz (32’), ‘DETO’ restored the lead through youngster Samed Onur (48’). The second youth player in Wollin’s two-man attack, Yannick Schlößer, sealed the result in the closing stages (85’). Karim Bellarabi rounded off the scoring with a penalty on 90 minutes to pick up their first three points.
“We’ve trained very hard and intensively for weeks, so it’s great to start with a win on matchday one,” said Wollin after the opening victory, “I’m happy but, of course, there’s room for improvement. It was important to pick up the points first time out.”
And Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ De Cae carried on in his individual match on Xbox, where ‘DETO’ had left off: Against Holstein-eSports player Benedict ‘B3NN1FIFA’ Ratzlaff, the Leverkusen player netted three times with the virtual Schlößer and goal number four was scored by Onur. Two 4-1 scorelines in the individual games for Bayer 04 for starters. “We’ve never started a season as well before,” said De Cae.
The narrow 4-3 defeat in the doubles game did slightly detract from the positive mood in the end but the Werkself eSports players were able to celebrate one or two triumphs on the console later on.
Late in the evening, there were clashes with VfL Wolfsburg. ‘DETO’ again started with an individual match where the Leverkusen player drew 1-1 with Timo ‘TIMOX’ Siep. ‘B04_DUBZJE’ came out on top with a 4-3 win in a one-on-one game against Benedikt ‘BENECR7X’ – and the double fixture also ended with a 2-0 win for #B04eSports.
After the first matchday in the newly created North-West section, the Black and Reds are in top spot – the VBL has been split into two divisions for the first time due to the high number of participating teams (26).
From 16.30 CET on next Tuesday, 17 November, there are three games against the current VBL bottom-placed team SC Paderborn. From 20.00 CET the opponents for Bayer 04 are FC St. Pauli.


With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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