For the first time after five wins on the bounce the U19s dropped two points in the rearranged game away to Wuppertaler SV.
The team coached by Markus von Ahlen and Iraklis Metaxas faced an energetic and hard-working opponent and appeared to be superior of the two sides. However, in contrast to the recent victories there was a lack of penetration up front.
Chances from set pieces
"We were definitely more effective in the recent wins," declared Metaxas. In the opening minutes, the Bayer 04 youngsters only looked dangerous from set pieces in front of the opposition goal.
In the closing stages of the first half, Wuppertal advanced into the Leverkusen penalty area for the first time and were able to open the scoring on 38 minutes. That made the task a little harder for the Werkself lads.
Attritional second half
The Wuppertal U19s sat back in the second half and used all means possible to disrupt Bayer 04's game. "But the lads never gave up and carried on in spite of all the obstacles," said von Ahlen.
Finally, it was left back Tim Handwerker who levelled direct from a free kick on 69 minutes to make it 1-1. The Werkself pressed for the winner in the closing stages and succeeded in creating two or three really good goalscoring opportunities. But they were unable to grab the winner.
Desire as a positive
"So soon after the game it feels like two points lost," admitted Metaxas with one eye on the table. A win would have taken them up to second place. "But one thing we take from the game is that the team never lost belief in themselves. That will definitely be important in the run-in."
With five games to go before the end of the regular season, the race for the two qualifying places in the West for the final rounds of the German Championships remain wide open. Schalke 04 (50 points) are the leaders going into the home straight. Borussia Dortmund (48) and the Werkself U19s (47) are on their heels.
Gladbach after the international break
Leverkusen face both rivals away from home. But first, after the winter break, the U19s have a home game on 2 April against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The kick-off at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is at 11.00 CET. Entrance is free.
Match stats:
Wuppertaler SV U19: Broda - Benz, Serdar, Kim (Bogoiu 90’), Oberlies, Sindermann, Zupo (Schulte 83’), Muharremi, Mourtala, Cirillo (Pavlidis 90’), Topcu (Alabas 78’).
Bayer 04 U19: Klaas - Nesseler, Rhein, Harenbrock, Handwerker, Yalcin, Bednarczyk, Grym, Abu Hanna, Akkaynak, Schreck (Shala 64’).
Goals: 1-0 Cirillo (38’), 1-1 Handwerker (69’).
Booked: Zupo - Handwerker.
Referee: Erk (Herne).
Attendance: 120.
A thrilling final but with no reward: the Bayer 04 U19s lost 5-4 to 1. FC Köln in the final for the German championship. Sergi Runge's side went into a commanding lead through goals by Artem Stepanov and Jeremiah Mensah, but the visitors battled back and turned it into a 4-2 lead before half-time. Leverkusen then showed their own comeback qualities in the second period, with Francis Onyeka and Kerim Alajbegovic restoring partiy, but Luis Stapelmann snatched the winner for Köln late on.
Show moreThey had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
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Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
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