"Ahead of the derby: Bayer storm to the top," is the headline in the EXPRESS. The report reads: "Bayer Leverkusen visit Cologne on Wednesday as league leaders. The Werkself beat TSG Hoffenheim 4-1 yesterday to go top of the Bundesliga for the first time in six years and 92 days."
The WAZ captured a little of the atmosphere after the final whistle: "Leverkusen's coach Peter Bosz high-fived his players beaming with joy as the league table was shown on the stadium screen at the BayArena: Led by two-goal Leon Bailey, the Werkself stormed back to the top of the Bundesliga after 2,284 days."
The early wonder goal from the Jamaican is described in the Kölnische Rundschau as follows: "Leon Bailey played a quick pass to Nadiem Amiri, rounded his teammate, received the ball, ran a few metres and curled the ball with a fantastic swerve into the top left corner."
BILD identifies the "father" of this strike and describes the opener as "a wonder goal and precision work a la Leverkusen. After the goal, the players ran to assistant coach Rob Maas (50). He has been responsible for set pieces since the start of the season. And with success: seven goals from set plays up to now."
The second wonderful goal of the night, from Florian Wirtz to make it 3-1, is rated by the Rheinische Post as "the art of football." The description of the goal is enough to excite many a football fan: "But then Florian Wirtz, who received a back-heel pass from Schick in the penalty area that stuck to his foot, stroked the ball with the sole of his boot and chipped it over Baumann to make it 3-1."
But there wasn't just praise for the delicate strike but also for the well-oiled system played by the Werkself. "Hoffenheim wanted, as befits the nature of their game, to also shine on the pitch," reports the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. "But as Leverkusen's defence cut out nearly every ball and fed the outstanding switching points of Baumgartlinger, Florian Wirtz and Amiri for quick counter-attacks, Bayer's wingers again and again had space to play on the break."
The kicker therefore sees Bayer 04 as "the team of the moment" and underlines this assessment with an interesting fact: "The Werkself, as yet unbeaten in the Bundesliga, have their third best record in their time in the Bundesliga with 25 points after 11 matchdays." As revealed in an information box, Bayer 04 have only picked up more points after eleven games in 2003/04 (26) and in 2001/02 (27).
After Jens Nowotny was officially named a Bayer 04 honorary captain last weekend, the long-standing Werkself player is part of the Leverkusen delegation on the trophy tour to New York City next week from 11 to 14 September. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 50-year-old talked about his expectations ahead of the trip to the metropolis on the East Coast of the USA.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for matchdays 6 to 12 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Full details of the Bayer 04 fixtures.
Show moreMarkus Rehm, a long jumper at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, won the gold medal for the fourth time in succession at the Paralympics on Wednesday.
Show moreThe fixture details for the second round of the DFB Pokal 2024/25 have been confirmed. The home tie for Bayer 04 against second division SV 07 Elversberg is on Tuesday, 29 October with the kick off at 18.00 CET (live on Sky). That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
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