The team under head coach Xabi Alonso made a perfect start in the first away game in the UEFA Europa League and quickly broke the deadlock with their first threat on goal: Leverkusen pressed high and won possession in the opposition box. Amine Adli passed to Jeremie Frimpong - the Dutchman, who extended his contract at the Werkself to 2028 this week, slotted the ball into the back of the net for an early lead (14’). That meant Adli was involved in a goal for the fourth game in succession. The visitors doubled the lead four minutes later: After gaining possession in his own half, Adam Hlozek carried the ball deep into the opposition half before picking out Nathan Tella on the right. The Englishman scored to make it 2-0 and that was the state of play at half-time. The hosts were livelier after the restart and they created a number of chances including Eric Kitolano hitting the woodwork on 76 minutes. The Norwegians were rewarded for their efforts ten minutes later when Emil Breivik headed home to make it 2-1. The match report is HERE.
Alonso summed up the game as follows at the post-match press conference: “We played well in the first half. Not spectacularly but with good intention. We lacked intensity in the second half and gave the ball away unnecessarily at times. We’ll have to work on improving that. Nevertheless, we are happy with the result.”
Granit Xhaka and Jonas Hofmann were also unhappy with the performance in the second half. “But you have to win games like that. We took the points. That’s what we wanted,” said Xhaka after the match. Hofmann added: “We would have like to have scored a third goal to seal the win earlier on.”
The kicker report read : “Xhaka identifies new quality after hard-fought win in Molde: Bayer 04 produced two different displays in each half in the 2-1 win at Molde FK - the sparkle of the Bundesliga was missing, ” the Rheinische Post talked about “Good fortune in Molde.” The Sportbild wrote: “Clinical in Norway! Alonso with unusual win on his anniversary: Job done in the far north.” Sport1.de described the game as follows: “Despite mega rotation: Leverkusen win in Molde” and added: “Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated their strength in depth on matchday two in the Europa League and confirmed their ambition to win the competition.”
Alonso announced “the option” of making changes at the pre-match press conference. And there were seven new players on the teamsheet for the game on Norway’s west coast compared with the 3-0 win at Mainz. Matej Kovar again replaced Lukas Hradecky in Europe as in the 4-0 win against Häcken. Josip Stanisic started on the right and Piero Hincapie on the left side of the defence, Robert Andrich was in midfield and the new forwards in the starting eleven were Adam Hlozek, Amine Adli and Nathan Tella. The latter scored to make it 2-0 with his first goal in a Werkself shirt - congratulations, Nathan!
The Werkself had 62 % possession and pass completion of 89% (Molde: 85%). Molde had fifteen shots on goal and Bayer 04 twelve. The two teams were neck-and-neck in challenges with Leverkusen having 48%.
Sunday 8 October brings the derby at home to FC Köln. The kick-off in front of a full house at the BayArena is at 15.30 CET.
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