Head coach Xabi Alonso made eight changes to his team from the 3-0 win away at Werder Bremen at the weekend. Only Piero Hincapie, Robert Andrich and Boniface retained their places, with Puerta named in the starting XI for the first time. Both teams initially had to find their feet on the snow-covered pitch at the Ullevi, which was previously the venue for the 1958 World Cup semi-final and 1992 European Championship final – both games featuring Germany.
The first chance of the game fell to Bayer 04 and was duly dispatched as Nathan Tella played in Josip Stanisic, whose cross to the far post was met by Boniface to head in with only 14 minutes gone – much to the joy of the 900 travelling fans. The game settled a bit after that before Mikkel Rygaard fired over for the Swedish cup winners. Five minutes later, Matej Kovar made three notable stops to deny the hosts and keep the group leaders ahead at the break.
Mbamba was sent on for Boniface as play resumed, allowing both Puerta and Adam Hlozek to shift forward as the Belgian teenager went into holding midfield, with the snow continuing to fall in Gothenburg. There were few chances of note to begin, with Tella’s long-range effort going over. Shortly after the hour mark, Schick returned from his injury lay-off. However, it was Amine Adli who had the first good chance of the second half, but he was denied from close range by Häcken goalkeeper Peter Abrahamsson.
There was no mistake from Schick, though, as he coolly turned in Stanisic’s low cross to double the advantage and open his account for the season with 74 minutes gone. The Czech striker ran over to the dugout to celebrate with his teammates and coaching staff. In the closing stages, Aourir came on for his senior debut as Leverkusen saw out the result that secures them top spot in Group H and also direct qualification for the Europa League round of 16 with a game to spare.
The Werkself’s next game sees Borussia Dortmund come to the BayArena on Sunday, 3 December (17:30 CET). Three days later, Paderborn are the visitors in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday (18:00 CET). The week is rounded off with a trip to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday (15:30).
Match stats:
Häcken: Abrahamsson - Ishaq, Ousou, Hovland, Totland - Rygaard, Gustafson, Amane (Dahbo 68') - Chilufya (Sonko 68'), Hrstic (Youssef 80'), Layouni
Bayer 04: Kovar - Stanisic, Tapsoba, Tah (Kossounou 80'), Hincapie - Puerta (Aourir 88'), Andrich - Tella (Schick 63'), Hlozek (Hofmann 80'), Adli - Boniface (Mbamba 46')
Goals: 0-1 Boniface (14'), 0-2 Schick (74')
Yellow card: Boniface
Referee: Julian Weinberger (Austria)
Attendance: 11,234 at the Ullevi in Gothenburg
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with another partner in the Sponsors Club. The previous Executive Box partner pure.energy has extended their commitment and taken the established partnership with the current German runners-up to the next highest level. The newly defined cooperation between Bayer 04 and pure.energy is set to run for two years to 30 June 2027.
Show moreSide-by-side with Bayer 04 Idol Rudi Völler, the Werkself women's team player Carlotta Wamser campaigned for amateur football in the community of Hürtgen in the district of Düren. As part of a VIP discussion group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign ‘Punktespiel 2.0’, Germany international Wamser, DFB director of professional football Völler plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth talked about the new club campaign organised by the German Football Association (DFB) at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen clubhouse.
Show moreBayer 04 player Carlotta Wamser is part of a VIP group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign Punktespiel 2.0. The Germany international, who signed for the Werkself in the summer, will be speaking tonight (Monday) alongside former Leverkusen managing director sport Rudi Völler, now the current DFB sporting director, plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen club house about the new clubs campaign launched by the German Football Association (DFB).
Show moreThe Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Matchday 5 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The game at the Millerntor Stadion will be played on Saturday, 27 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreAfter seven days in Rieden, Bavaria, Bayer 04 Women returned to Leverkusen on Saturday. With a lot of intensive training sessions on the pitch and a high-quality friendly against Bundesliga runners-up VfL Wolfsburg (2-3) in their legs, the Werkself party left the Hotel Gut Matheshof with a lot of valuable insights. Head coach Roberto Pätzold discussed the key points from the training camp.
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