As in the last few matches the U19s were first out of the blocks in Münster. Alert in tackles and challenges and determined going forwards, the Leverkusen visitors took control of the game immediately and went 1-0 up with a goal from Sam Schreck after just five minutes.
Münster were unable to establish a foothold in the game. The Bayer 04 team under Markus von Ahlen and Iraklis Metaxas was solid at the back and equally sharp up front as they were in the 5-1 win against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Clear lead at the break
Before half-time goals from Güven Yalcin (28’), Cedric Harenbrock (34’) and Tim Handwerker (41’) extended the lead to 4-0. In contrast to many previous games, the U19s did not rest on their laurels and played the second 45 minutes with the same level of concentration.
Shrek netted his second goal to make it 5-0 on 53 minutes. It went the same way on every ten minutes with substitutes Dennis Mbay (65’) making it 6-0 and central defender Joel Abu Hanna converting a penalty for the seventh goal on 82 minutes.
Exciting battle for top spots
With the biggest win of the season, the U19s have not just made up ground top spots in terms of goal difference. With five wins on the bounce and 46 points, the Werkself of not dropped a point in 2017 and have now moved up to third place two points behind Borussia Dortmund. The league leaders Schalke 04 (50 points) are also within reach. VfL Bochum are the fourth team involved in the battle for two qualifying spots in the West group for the German Championship final rounds. If the U19s win next Sunday's rearranged game against Wuppertaler SV (19.03.) then they could pull past Dortmund into second place and move within a point of Schalke.
Match stats:
Preußen Münster U19: Mortada - Zwick, Gül (Ströker 46'), Möllmann (65. Steinkötter), Durmus (Kondring 28’), Schmitz, Ibraim (Conde 46' ), Conze, Jordan, Woitaschek, Lackmann.
Bayer 04 U19: Klaas - Nesseler, Rhein (Boller 75’), Harenbrock (Bilogrevic 56’), Handwerker (Stanilewicz 75’), Yalcin, Bednarczyk (Mbay 46’), Grym, Abu Hanna, Akkaynak, Schreck.
Goals: 0-1 Schreck (5’), 0-2 Yalcin (28’), 0-3 Harenbrock (34’), 0-4 Handwerker (41’), 0-5 Schreck (53’), 0-6 Mbay (65’), 0-7 Abu Hanna (82’).
Booked: / - Mbay.
Referee: Fleddermann (Nordhorn).
Attendance: 85.
The highly successful and mutually appreciated partnership between Bayer 04 and head coach Xabi Alonso ends after two and a half years. The 43-year-old Spaniard has led the Werkself to three trophies. Above all, winning the first German league title in the club's history will always be associated with the name of Xabi Alonso. The former world class player, who won many hearts in Leverkusen as a person, now says farewell to Bayer 04. We look back at a fantastic time with the Basque who fulfilled the biggest dream of all Bayer 04 fans together with an outstanding team.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreA cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen will be the first Bundesliga club to open and operate a football academy in Brazil. The "Bayer 04 Football Academy São Paulo," led by Bayer 04 club legend Paulo Sérgio, will be established on the Bayer Brazil campus in São Paulo and accommodate up to 300 children and youth ages 5 to 15.
Show more