Head coach Xabi Alonso again rotated his side on the European stage following the 5-0 victory against SV Werder Bremen that crowned Bayer 04 as German champions for the first time. There were six changes in total, with only Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie, Granit Xhaka and Nathan Tella keeping their places.
Before kick-off, the hosts put on a light and fire show at the London Stadium, and West Ham started the game with similar energy. The Hammers were bold and assertive as they looked to attack straight away, but the Werkself initially stood firm and didn't allow any chances. It was Leverkusen who registered the first attempt on 10 minutes, but Tella's powerful long-distance drive was foiled by WHU goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. It was a different story at the other end three minutes later, when fit-again Jarrod Bowen delivered the ball into the six-yard box, where Michail Antonio got in between Kossounou and Matej Kovar to make it 1-0 on the night and 1-2 on aggregate. The Hammers didn't let up after that goal and the next free shot by Bowen was saved by Kovar with a strong reflex. The Black-and-Reds continued to struggle to find their way into the physical contest.
The atmosphere was getting increasingly heated on the side of the pitch, too, with referee José María Sánchez showing a yellow card to both assistant coaches in the 31st minute. The action on the pitch was disrupted by several fouls and hold-ups. West Ham kept trying threatening crosses, while the Werkself lacked ideas and passing accuracy until the break, which they went into with a one-goal aggregate lead.
Alonso introduced fresh legs in the form of Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong for the second half. The latter immediately provided pressure and found Florian Wirtz with an excellent cross-field ball on the counter, but his first-time finish at the far post missed the target. The visitors were now a considerably greater attacking threat. The lively Frimpong had a go himself from range in the 66th minute. Although the Hammers continued to defend high, there was more room for Bayer 04 than in the first half. The Londoners, for their part, ran out of steam in attack and Leverkusen increasingly gained control of the game as the second half wore on. In the 83rd minute, Frimpong ran through on goal but blasted over the bar. Six minutes later, however, he had more luck: the Dutchman went for goal again and his shot took a decisive deflection off a West Ham defender on its way in. The equaliser confirmed the Werkself's progression to the Europa League semi-finals, where they'll face Roma, and extended their unbeaten record in all competitions this season to 44 games - a new record in Europe's top five leagues!
It gets no less exciting in the Bundesliga as the Werkself travel to Borussia Dortmund this Sunday, 21 April. Kick-off at Signal Iduna Park is at 17:30 CEST. A week later, on Saturday 27 April, VfB Stuttgart are the visitors to the BayArena at 18:30 CEST.
Match stats:
West Ham United: Fabianski – Coufal (Johnson 84'), Zouma, Aguerd (Ogbonna 45'+2 ), Cresswell – Ward-Prowse, Alvarez (Cornet 84'), Soucek – Bowen, Antonio, Kudus
Bayer 04: Kovar – Stanisic, Kossounou (Tapsoba 29'), Tah, Hincapie – Xhaka, Palacios – Tella (Frimpong 46'), Wirtz (Andrich 87'), Grimaldo (Adli 68') – Schick (Boniface 46')
Goals: 0-1 Antonio (13'), 1-1 Frimpong (89')
Yellow cards: Antonio, Bowen, Zouma, Coufal, Soucek / Kossounou, Tah, Palacios, Kovar
Referee: José María Sánchez (Spain)
Twelve Werkself players have been selected for their national teams in the final international break of the year, with the Leverkusen's international players competing in the final group matches in the UEFA Nations League, in qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations. We round up all the results involving Bayer 04 players here.
Show moreFive players in the Bayer 04 Women squad have been selected for the Germany U23s for two international fixtures. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Tuesday afternoon.
Show moreBayer 04’s Bundesliga game at home to St. Pauli on Saturday, 7 December will be the next district matchday of the season, with the district of Hitdorf being the stage for numerous activities in the week building up to the fixture against the promoted side.
Show moreThe Bayer 04 Fanzone opens in two days time on Wednesday, 20 November in the South Stand at the BayArena. Bayer 04 fans will be able to enjoy a state-of-the-art, interactive shopping and fan experience covering more than 700 square metres. Black and Reds supporters are warmly welcome to spend an exciting day in this brand-new area at the stadium.
Show moreIt is already a fact that the Bayer 04 Women have had their best Hinrunde ever. The Werkself are fourth in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga on 23 points two behind the top team. Tickets are now on sale for the final games of the year. The tickets for the last two home matches in 2024 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium are available now. First up on Friday, 6 December (kick-off: 18.30 CET) are last season's runners-up VfL Wolfsburg and that is followed by the home game at the start of the Rückrunde against SC Freiburg on Saturday, 14 December (12.00 CET).
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