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 Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Dutch top-flight club Fortuna Sittard in the third pre-season friendly. The match is on Friday, 1 August at the Fortuna Sittard stadium with the kick-off at 19:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to VfL Bochum in the second pre-season friendly. The match is on Sunday, 27 July at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. Read on for the latest information on ticket sales.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the England U21 international and European champion Jarell Quansah. The central defender joins Leverkusen from Premier League champions Liverpool on a contract to 30 June 2030.
Show moreA striking look and innovative design as an expression of a forward-looking partnership: With the official presentation of the current home jersey, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and sports equipment manufacturer New Balance start a new era in tandem. For the first partnership with a professional German club, the American company from Boston, Massachusetts has developed a creative new interpretation of the Leverkusen club colours. A row of red lines, made up of slender crosses, merges into a black background. Inspired by the world famous Bayer Cross, the jersey is a symbol of a new beginning without forgetting historical roots.
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