Sadly there was little to celebrate on the final matchday of the season even though the U19s did secure a comfortable 4-2 victory over relegated Viktoria Köln. After going behind on four minutes the game was turned round with two quick goals before the break. Simon Rhein (37') and Güven Yalcin (38'). Yalcin scored again three minutes after the restart to make it 3-1. With 79 minutes on the clock Sam Schreck netted a fourth goal for the Werkself before Viktoria scored a consolation goal two minutes from full-time.
However, as Schalke 04 (1-1 at Wuppertal) and Borussia Dortmund (1-0 at Duisburg) both secured points it meant the team under Markus von Ahlen and Iraklis Metaxas were unable to take one of the top two spots that would have qualified the team for the German Championship final.
Third place in the end
That could only have happened if Schalke 04 and lost or Dortmund had failed to win. At the end of an exciting season the Leverkusen lads are in third place on 56 points behind Dortmund (58 point) and Schalke (57).
"The lads gave their all again today and did their job," said coach von Ahlen after the game, "but it wasn't to be. Of course, we wish Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund all the best for the final rounds."
Dortmund play VFL Wolfsburg as Western champions in the semi-final. Schalke meet Bayern Munich in a two-legged tie.
The Nerazzurri are in town: Today, Tuesday 10 December, Bayer 04 entertain the reigning champions of Italy Inter Milan on Matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21.00 CET/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). Read on for the latest information on the home game at the BayArena.
Show moreThe Bayer 04 U19 team lost 1-0 to Inter Milan on the sixth and final matchday in the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2024/25. The only goal of the game was scored just after the hour mark. While the side from North Italy have finished top in the league phase with a maximum points return, the Leverkusen team appeared to have just missed out on the knockout stages of the European competition. There is faint hope looking to several games to follow where results are needed to go the way of the Werkself.
Show moreItalian teams are known for being strong in defence. The fact that Inter Milan, the next opponents for the Werkself in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, 10 December (kick-off: 20.45 CET), have not conceded a single goal in their last five matches is impressive. Will the visitors' keeper Yann Sommer be able to keep a clean sheet at the BayArena against Florian Wirtz and Co.? The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga Matchday 16. The game at the Signal Iduna Park on Friday, 10 January 2025, kicks off at 20.30 CET. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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