The Werkself, with three changes from the side in the Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg (0-2), were alert from the start, compact in defence and they frustrated the opposition. The impressive Jeremie Frimpong put the ball in the net on 24 minutes but VAR intervened immediately and decided it was offside. But a Moussa Diaby strike just before half-time did count (42') – a deserved lead. The Frenchman scored again after the restart (52'), Florian Wirtz (86') and substitute Nadiem Amiri in the final minute added to the tally to secure a 4-0 win. An unpleasant end to the match: Real Betis player Nabil Fekir and Werkself playmaker Kerem Demirbay clashed in added time and were both shown the red card. The match report is HERE.
Head coach Gerardo Seoane not only praised the players on the pitch after the final whistle: "I'm very proud of the team. But also huge thanks to the fans who gave us fantastic support," said the 43-year-old. The Swiss coach said about the match-winner on the night Moussa Diaby: "His performance stands out with the two goals. But I'd like to stress how much he worked for the team."
Goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky talked in a touchline interview about "a great team performance. We definitely wanted to win today and fought for it even more." Midfield dynamo Robert Andrich: "We very much played as a team today, gave little away, took our chances and deservedly won in the end. That was important."
Moussa Diaby played an inspired role on this Europa League night. Having missed Saturday's game against Wolfsburg due to suspension, the France international was directly involved in all four goals (two goals, two assists). "Above all, I'm happy about this win for the team," he explained after the match. 70 per cent of fans voted for the 22-year-old on the Bayer 04 app as the Man of the Match.
Diaby had his own small fan club in the stands for the game against Real Betis. A few hours before the Europa League match kicked off, there was a friendly at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre between the Bayer 04 U11s and youngsters from Esperance Paris 19, Diaby's youth team (up to his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2013). To celebrate the day, the Werkself player gave the children lots of shirts with the number 19 on – and he clapped hands with them after the end of the game at the south-east section of the BayArena.
Amine Adli and Co. had a total of 22 efforts on goal (Real Betis:15). The Seoane team had slightly less possession than the visitors from Andalusia (with 56 per cent) but the two teams were more or less level in pass completion on 83 per cent.
The Express reports a "Euro Gala". Furthermore, in relation to the previous five matches without a win for the Werkself, the journal adds: "The negative run was unrecognisable from the start for Bayer against a mediocre Spanish side."
Kicker highlighted Diaby as "outstanding" and named him "Man of the Match". Both the Rheinische Post as well as the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger awarded top marks for the winger's display. Meanwhile, the BILD tabloid made a play on words: "Leverkusen finally take off – with 'BayAirFrance'. Oui, oui, Diaby.".
The Werkself now return to Bundesliga action: Bayer 04 travel to the capital on Sunday, 7 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET). Jonathan Tah and Co. play Hertha Berlin. That is followed across Europe by the next international break.
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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The Bayer 04 women’s team secured a win in the friendly during the international break. Without a total of eight international players, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team defeated Bundesliga 2 side Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 at the Kurtekotten Training Centre, thanks to goals from Lobke Loonen (1’, penalty), Caroline Kehrer (41') and Valentina Mädl (66').
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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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Bayer 04 will have to manage without striker Christian Kofane in the coming weeks. The 20-year-old sustained a muscle injury to his left thigh on international duty with the Cameroon national team during the recent international break. This will prevent him from playing in the upcoming Werkself matches.
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Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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