Werkself review #B04QAR: A game with special stories

Summary: Great joy on front foot

The top match in Group H could hardly have started better from a Black and Red perspective: Florian Wirtz opened the scoring on four minutes. In the middle of a dominant and attacking opening phase from the Werkself, the visitors from the Caspian Sea hit back with an equaliser out of the blue as Tural Bayramov converted a penalty following a foul by Granit Xhaka in the penalty area on Juninho (16'). Bayer 04 reacted to only the second goal conceded in the current competition by retaking the lead through Alejandro Grimaldo (29'), and Victor Boniface made it 3-1 six minutes later with a wonder goal. That was the half-time score. The Werkself started the second half spectacularly and with the same level of success: A double whammy from Grimaldo (54') and Edmond Tapsoba (57') increased the lead to 5-1 after which there were few chances. The match report is HERE.

Reaction: "A very important win"

Robert Andrich, who led the Werkself team out as captain for the first time, talked after the final whistle about the successful start to the match and an important first goal. The 29-year-old added: "We lost our grip for a short time but then kept control after that. To that extent, not only the result but also the way we played was very good." His teammate Florian Wirtz summed up the game as follows: "We did our job very well, gave very little away and scored five goals. Of course, we could have scored more but there's nothing to moan about today."

Head coach Xabi Alonso highlighted the great significance of the win on the situation in Group H as he stressed after the game: "The win was very important for us." The Werkself now have a three-point lead over Qarabag after matchday three – and the aim is to take the next important step in the return match in two weeks time. Alonso: "We also want to win in Baku but we know it will be difficult there."

What the papers say: "World class calibre at every stage"

Florian Wirtz was undoubtedly the man of the match from a football perspective: One goal and three assists were clocked up by the 20-year-old in the clash with the champions from Azerbaijan. He was justifiably awarded top marks by the Bild Zeitung ("Involved in practically every attacking move, with world-class calibre at every stage"). Alejandro Grimaldo also earned top marks with the Werkself duo "shining" on the night. The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger headline reads "Bayer 04 march towards winning the group in the Europa League" and also talks about "brilliance". The Rheinische Post opts for the adjective "effortless", the kicker headline is "Wirtz whirls around at will."

Personnel: Schick comeback - trio honoured

It was loud, deafeningly loud: Patrik Schick made his comeback after an injury lay-off of 231 days to thunderous applause and standing ovations from Bayer 04 fans. The Czechia striker said after the game full of joy: "This night was simply brilliant for me after being out for so long! I didn't count on such a warm reception – a big thank you to our fans! I've really missed the feeling of being on the pitch. Now it's about carrying on working hard and fighting for my place in the team."

Before the warm-up, three Werkself players received awards for their performance in last season's Europa League campaign: Jonathan Tah for being included in the Team of the Season, Florian Wirtz for being voted Young Player of the Season and Victor Boniface – last season still at Union Saint-Gilloise – for being the top goalscorer and also for his place in the Team of the Season. Congratulations all round!

Hundreds of students also had great fun on this successful European night with the youngsters wearing bucket hats in the West Stand having taken up the offer to students for the game. A group from the Leverkusen football club Roland Bürrig watched the game from the VIP area having won a VIP upgrade in a Bayer 04 lottery.

Stats: Wirtz outstanding in Europa League

Wirtz unstoppable: Since his debut in the Europa League in August 2020, no other player has been involved in as many goals as Wirtz in this competition (10 goals, 12 assists). A look at the match stats points in one direction: The Werkself had 21 to 3 shots on goal, 62% possession, 54% duels won and a better pass completion rate (92 to 81%)

Outlook: Non-stop in all competitions

Bayer 04 have another two busy weeks coming up. Sunday's Bundesliga home game against SC Freiburg (29 October) with the kick-off at 17.30 CET is followed by a DFB Pokal match. The second round tie at third division SV Sandhausen kicks off at 18.00 CET on Wednesday 1 November. Bayer 04 then travel to TSG Hoffenheim (4 November, 15.30 CET) and are also way for the return match against Qarabag in Baku (9 November, 18.45 CET). The third double fixture week in succession is rounded off with a Bundesliga home game against Union Berlin (12 November, 15.30 CET). Then comes the next international break.