Speaking afterwards to Werkself TV, Tillman said: “It just feels really good today. Everyone’s performance was top-class. From start to finish, we showed who was determined to win this match. A successful trip and the next step.” Schick, who scored twice, said for his part: “In my opinion, the key today was the intensity we showed right from the start. That allowed us to create plenty of chances. The win was, of course, well deserved. Winning four games in a row feels really good. Now the focus is on Sunday’s important match against Freiburg.”
- Post-match reaction
- Post-match press conference
What the papers say: “Bayer 04 clear Poznan hurdle with ease”
“Leverkusen hold their own in the cauldron of Poznan,” read the headline in the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “Bayer rotate line-up to secure another victory in Poznan,” wrote the Rheinische Post, referring to the six changes to the starting XI for a Werkself side that had “sealed the result before half-time”. Bild Zeitung noted, with regard to Schick – who has now scored eight goals in eight matches across all competitions – that the Czech “demonstrates his outstanding form even as a substitute. [...] Schick immediately goes in search of goals.” The kicker summary read as follows: “Bayer 04 clear the Poznan hurdle with ease. Against the Polish champions, the Werkself had the game wrapped up before half-time and went on to score a well-deserved fourth goal in the closing stages. Man of the match is, of course, Schick, who came on as a substitute.”
Personnel: Debuts and milestones
There was some encouraging news regarding the squad even before kick-off: Aleix Garcia made his 100th appearance for Bayer 04, Nathan Tella was in the starting line-up for a competitive match for the first time since early May, and goalscorer Ibrahim Maza, along with several of his team-mates, were making their debuts in the Europa League. Malik Tillman scored his first goal in a major European competition with his strike to make it 2–0.
