Back
29.04.2018Bundesliga

What the papers say: 'Three points thrown away'

The story of Bayer 04's 1-0 defeat at home to VfB Stuttgart was also quickly explained in the media: Poor finishing by Leverkusen and efficiency from VfB in scoring the only goal of the game. Read on to see what the papers say:
Bellarabi_Schuss.jpg

The online Sunday edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger believes Bayer 04  missed the chance of taking a big step forward to the Champions League against Stuttgart. A combination of carelessness and silly mistakes affected the team coached by Heiko Herrlich in the 1-0 defeat against VfB Stuttgart and now they have to rely on other teams and better performances of their own in the final two games against Werder Bremen and Hannover 96." Another reason behind the 1-0 scoreline was the performance of Stuttgart's outstanding keeper Ron-Robert Zieler: "The VfB goalkeeper reacted brilliantly half a dozen times including the penalty save. And his one mistake on 66 minutes, when he gave the ball away to Bellarabi, he rectified himself."

The Sonntags Express also criticizes the Werkself finishing: "Are Bayer going to let Champions League qualification slip through their hands in the run-in? After three defeats in succession nerves are jangling under the Bayer cross. Why? Because the Bayer attack was a complete flop! Squandering chances started on 15 minutes … Bayer's first culprit. Lucas Alario missed the gift of a  penalty. In the absence of the usual penalty taker  Wendell, the  Argentinian hit the ball towards the left corner of the net at a comfortable height - no problem for Stuttgart's keeper Zieler. It was Kevin Volland's turn in the second half. After a brilliant solo run by  Lars Bender, the unmarked striker fired the ball into the stands from eleven yards out."

The Stuttgarter Zeitung report from Leverkusen focuses on VfB Stuttgart's European ambitions: "The VfB captain Christian Gentner made the Stuttgart fans happy with a header back across the Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The newcomers to the top flight won 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to Gentner's strike and are now on  45 points with two games to play. The team coached by Tayfun Korkut are just one point behind Eintracht Frankfurt in seventh place in the Bundesliga. After matchday 34, that position would ensure qualification for the Europa League."

And Kicker also sees the Swabian team as candidates for the Europa League: "A mercilessly efficient VfB Stuttgart have moved up to seventh thanks to a 1-0 win at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The Swabians only needed one real chance and an impressive Ron-Robert Zieler to secure a flattering win against the Werkself who missed a number of chances and  have now conceded the fourth Champions League qualification place to Hoffenheim with a host of missed chances."

Related News

Premium-Partner DRIVIO
Business - 03.09.2026

New premium partner for Bayer 04: DRIVIO keeps Werkself on the road

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.

Show more
Maja Sternad am Ball
Women - 02.09.2026

Bayer 04 Women ‘fully convinced of squad’s quality’ ahead of Hoffenheim visit

Following last weekend’s big game against Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Women face another exciting challenge as they visit Hoffenheim to kick off Matchday 3 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Friday (kick-off: 18:30 CEST).

Show more
Sommercamp „Ferien ohne Krieg“
Bayer 04 - 02.09.2026

‘Holidays without war’: Bayer 04, TSV and Bayer AG support summer camp for children from Ukraine

Under the slogan ‘Holidays without War’, 60 children from war-torn Ukraine took part in the summer camp organised by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz in Leverkusen and the surrounding area in August. The children aged between 10 and 14 – many of whom have lost their parents in the war – come from the Ukrainian twin towns of Leverkusen, Cologne and Monheim am Rhein: Nikopol, Dnipro and Volodymyr. Bayer 04, Bayer AG and TSV Bayer 04 supported the camp to mark its 10th anniversary, enabling even more children and young people than in previous years to spend a few carefree days’ holiday away from the war in the Rhineland.

Show more
Ruby Grant verlässt Bayer 04
Women - 01.09.2026

Ruby Grant joins Sporting CP

Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.

Show more
Guéla Doué: Erstes Interview - auf dem Dach der BayArena!
Werkself-TV - 01.09.2026

Guéla Doué: First interview – on the BayArena roof!

New to Leverkusen and straight up onto the roof at the BayArena: Guéla Doué has arrived. In an interview with Werkself TV, the new right-back talks about his previous links with Bayer 04 and how much he’s looking forward to his first home match. Have a look!

Show more