The Welt am Sonntag writes: "Leverkusen had lost the last three season openers. In that respect, this season is already better. And perhaps Bayer will finally live up to expectations over 34 games. The 3-2 win against newly-promoted Paderborn can be seen as a good start as it was a hard-fought victory. An unusual game where Leverkusen had significantly more possession but Paderborn bravely stood firm. The newcomers played like they deserved the step-up to the top flight: with refreshing counter-attacking football… The game had a lot to offer. The impressive Kai Havertz scored with a delightful lob (19') and Mamba levelled from close range (25'). Bayer clearly bore the hallmarks of Peter Bosz. They threw everything into getting forward but were susceptible at the back. The risk was rewarded with a brilliantly worked poacher's goal from Kevin Volland (69')."
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung saw it as follows: "Newly-promoted Paderborn kept their promise of playing attacking football on their return to the Bundesliga but they had to accept a narrow defeat in the end. At Bayer Leverkusen, the East Westphalians twice levelled in an exciting game but ended up losing 3-2… Both teams showed no inhibitions in going forward from the start. Paderborn were not put off by the early opener from Leverkusen and hit back five minutes later through Michel after a fatal, misplaced pass from Baumgartlinger. The Leverkusen player made amends for his mistake with a wonderful ball to Havertz; the Germany international scored to make it 2-1."
The assessment of the online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reads: "The 3-2 win against SC Paderborn was miles away from perfection but was a spectacle without one second of boredom." Kai Havertz was named Man of the Match: "In the Bundesliga opener, he showed his full range of ability even if not every pass and shot found its target. His goal was a beauty as was his role in the build-up to make it 3-2."
The Cologne-based Express reports: "What a no-holds-barred encounter that was. Newly-promoted SC Paderborn stretched Bayer Leverkusen to the limit with a bold away performance on Bundesliga matchday one and they were in the running to cause an upset for much of the game. The Werkself once again were able to rely on their top attack in the end."
The Bild am Sonntag commented on the great input from fans ahead of the game in welcoming the team bus: "Leverkusen can win on the Bundesliga opening matchday. 3-2 against newly-promoted Paderborn. The team coached by Peter Bosz secured the first win in an opener since 2015… Helped by the fans. 5,000 Leverkusen supporters gave their stars an extra boost before the game by welcoming the team bus. That gave everybody a lift. Kevin Volland: 'As we drove through it was brilliant. You can really see what's possible here!'"
The assessment of the Kicker: "As expected, Bayer Leverkusen beat Bundesliga newcomers SC Paderborn on the opening matchday. The Peter Bosz team beat the initially impressive visitors 3-2. After a frenetic first half, where Paderborn twice hit back quickly after Leverkusen scored, the East Westphalians dropped off significantly in the second half. Leverkusen pressed forward and scored the decisive third goal 20 minutes before the end… The tempo was very high from the start with both teams endeavouring to get forward."
The online edition of the Rheinische Post saw a "Werkself spectacle": "At last, a win in the opener: The Peter Bosz team secured a 3-2 win against the newcomers in a, at times, thrilling encounter. It's the first Leverkusen win on the opening matchday in four years. Leverkusen fans did not have to wait long for the first Werkself goal of the new Bundesliga season. On ten minutes, Kevin Volland broke through into the box from the right, shook off his opponent, and put in a cross cum shot that ended up with Leon Bailey at the far post. The Jamaican had no problem turning the ball into the net. That was the starting shot for a highly entertaining, at times spectacular, duel along the lines of a David against Goliath encounter that was won 3-2 by the team coached by Peter Bosz – the Goliath."
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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