Schick Happens: Bayer 04’s Last-Minute Madness!

What. A. Game. If someone had pitched this as a Hollywood script, it probably would’ve been rejected for being too unrealistic. 3-1 down in Stuttgart, barely any time left, and then? Bayer 04 shook it off, grabbed the hammer, and nailed yet another epic comeback into the history books. And once again, the leading man of this last-minute blockbuster: Patrik Schick!

But let’s rewind. Anyone who watched the first half had every reason to wonder whether Bayer 04 had forgotten there was actually a Bundesliga match scheduled for Sunday night. Stuttgart pressed aggressively, Demirović scored early, and while we were still busy complaining about our lack of urgency, we suddenly found ourselves 0-2 down right after halftime. Mood? Rock bottom. Hope? Almost gone. But then, this team did what they do best under Xabi Alonso: refuse to go down without a fight.

Frimpong—of course, Frimpong!—ignited the comeback with a brilliant strike for 1-2, but just as we started believing again, disaster struck. Granit Xhaka, usually our midfield general, accidentally turned into a Stuttgart assist machine and deflected the ball into his own net. A two-goal deficit once again. By this point, one thing was clear: watching Bayer 04 this season is not for the faint-hearted.

But then, the Werkself flicked the switch to their ultimate don’t-count-us-out mode. Hincapié smashed in a header for 2-3—suddenly, the momentum was back! Stuttgart started wobbling. Boniface came on, doing what he does best: causing chaos. A low cross into the box, a Stuttgart foot in the way, and boom—3-3! The away end erupted, the energy on the pitch skyrocketed. One last push.

90+4. Frimpong crosses. Schick jumps. Header. GOOOOOAL! Absolute scenes! Pure madness!

This match had everything—setbacks, fighting spirit, own goals, emotions—and, of course, that one Magic Moment, as Xabi Alonso called it. Once again, Bayer 04 proved that this season is something special.

And now? International break. A good chance to catch our breath. But once the boys return, we all know: this season is far from over—and Bayer 04 still has a few chapters left to write.

So Close, Yet So Far: Bayer 04 Bows Out of the Champions League

It was supposed to be one of those magical nights. You know, the kind where the air is electric, where football miracles happen, and where you wake up the next morning thinking: How on earth did we pull that off?! But nope. Instead, it was a 0-2 defeat against Bayern Munich—like a cold shower after a long night out: sobering, painful, but somehow not surprising.

And yet, we had dared to dream. The BayArena was packed, the atmosphere was buzzing, and our team was fired up. From the first minute, Bayer pressed high, ran tirelessly, and pinned Bayern deep in their own half. Schick had his chances, Frimpong was everywhere, Xhaka was bossing the midfield like a bouncer at Oktoberfest. And Bayern? They looked uncomfortable. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance?

But then came that moment. A lapse in concentration after a free kick—and of course, Harry Kane was there, that goal-scoring machine with built-in luck mode. Boom, 0-1. And with that, our last spark of hope faded. Bayer kept pushing, throwing everything forward, but when Alphonso Davies made it 0-2, reality hit hard: no miracle tonight.

And that hurts. Because this season, we’ve proven time and time again that we can beat anyone. Because we believed. Because we wanted this. And because we all dreamed of something bigger than another Round of 16 exit.

But hey—this is Bayer 04. We get knocked down, but we get back up. The Champions League is over, but the season isn’t! The Bundesliga title race is still on, the DFB-Pokal semifinal awaits, and who knows—maybe there’s still a magical night left in this season. Just not in the Champions League.

"If You're Gonna Lose, Lose Big" – A Rough Day Against Bremen

There are losses that hurt. And then there are losses that make you wonder if you've accidentally slipped into an alternate universe. The 0-2 defeat against Werder Bremen was one of those. Not because Bremen outplayed us—no, it was more like one of those games where absolutely nothing seems to go right. A rough day, as they say. Or, in Xabi Alonso’s words: “A game we want to forget as soon as possible.”

But forget? That’s tough. Because how often have we experienced this feeling this season? Exactly—twice. And when a defeat feels like a power outage in football paradise, it says a lot about how incredible this season has been so far.

Everything started as expected: Leverkusen with possession, with control—but unfortunately, also with an early shock. After just seven minutes, it was 0-1 because Romano Schmid decided that a Bremen lead would spice up the Bundesliga title race. After that? An offside goal for Bremen, a crossbar hit from Aleix Garcia, plenty of attempts, but no breakthrough.

At halftime, there was still hope: Alonso brought on Wirtz, Palacios, and Mukiele to turn things around. But Wirtz had to leave the pitch just 15 minutes later after a rough tackle—because apparently, the football gods had decided that things weren’t bad enough yet. Even after that, Bayer 04 kept pushing forward, but the ball simply refused to go in. And just when we were hoping for a last-minute equalizer, Bremen’s Justin Njinmah sealed the deal in stoppage time—0-2, game over.

Looking at the stats, it gets even more frustrating: 73% possession for Leverkusen, 18 shots to 11—this is the kind of match you win nine times out of ten. But this time, it was the one out of ten that just wasn’t meant to be. Or as kicker put it: "Struggling Bremen win an emotional battle." Emotions, yes. But the wrong ones.

And now? Now it’s Champions League time against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Talk about a contrast: first Bremen, now the ultimate showdown against the record champions. Maybe that’s a good thing—because if there’s one thing this team has proven under Alonso, it’s that they know how to respond.

So, time to shake it off and move on. And please, let’s not forget—we’re still having one hell of a season. Because if the biggest problem of the year is that we’ve lost twice, then we must be doing something very, very right.

Header, Horror, Hopeless – A Night to Forget in Munich

It could have been a Champions League classic. A blockbuster German duel, the unstoppable Werkself against a struggling Bayern side, Xabi Alonso versus Vincent Kompany – all of Europe watching. And then? Well, then Bayer 04 put on a performance that felt more like a dress rehearsal gone wrong rather than a big premiere. A 0-3 defeat in Munich. Not quite what we had in mind.

Losing happens. Especially in Munich. The Bundesliga is full of teams that know this pain all too well. But some defeats leave you wondering, "How did that happen?" And then there are games like this one, where the answer is painfully obvious. It all started early: nine minutes in, Olise sends in a cross, Kane nods it home – 1-0. Leverkusen had barely settled into the match, and already they were chasing.

But credit where it's due, Bayer wasn’t playing badly. Jeremie Frimpong had a golden chance to equalize, but Manuel Neuer did what he does best – denied it with a brilliant save. From then on, the game became scrappy, full of fouls and yellow cards. Tense, but manageable. At halftime, 1-0 down, still everything to play for. But then came the moment that defined the night: Kovar’s unfortunate mistake, Musiala pounced – 2-0. And just like that, the fight seemed to drain away.

When Nordi Mukiele saw a second yellow card, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be Leverkusen’s night. Then, just to make things worse, Edmond Tapsoba decided to wrap his arms around Harry Kane like a long-lost friend in the penalty box. The result? A penalty, a Kane goal, and a final score of 0-3. Ouch.

It would be easy to point fingers at individual players, but the truth is, this was a collective collapse. And to be fair, this team has given us nothing but world-class performances all season. So why not believe in them for the second leg? Sure, a 0-3 deficit is brutal, but football has seen crazier comebacks. Or, in Alonso’s own words: "We have to come back."

So, let’s wipe the slate clean, take care of Bremen in the Bundesliga, and then throw everything at Bayern in the return leg. The Champions League has written some legendary underdog stories. Why shouldn’t Bayer 04 be the next one?

Frankfurt Crushed – Now Comes the Real Test!

Bayer 04 has won away from home again. No, scratch that—Frankfurt was absolutely dismantled in a 4-1 victory that felt more like a casual training session. 29 Bundesliga away games unbeaten? That’s not just a streak; that’s practically a law of nature! While neutral fans might wonder if this dominance is getting boring, we just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Frankfurt, usually a force to be reckoned with at home, probably thought they could give Leverkusen a tough fight. But this Xabi Alonso team doesn’t get rattled—especially not when their opponents make it this easy. Nathan Tella kicked things off with a cool finish after a pinpoint pass from Granit Xhaka. If you thought that was impressive, you had no idea what was coming. Nordi Mukiele scrambled one in after a corner—doesn’t matter how they go in, they all count. And then came Patrik Schick, finishing off a slick Grimaldo setup with the confidence of a striker who knows exactly where the goal is. 3-0 after 33 minutes—thanks for playing, Eintracht!

But because Bayer isn’t just the best team in the league but also a team that enjoys a little drama, they gifted Frankfurt a goal before halftime. Mukiele, perhaps just trying to keep things interesting, played a way-too-casual back pass to Lukas Hradecky, and Hugo Ekitiké gladly accepted the invitation. A mistake? Sure. A problem? Not when you’re scoring at will.

And that’s exactly what Bayer kept doing. Frankfurt came out after the break fired up, but against this Leverkusen side, effort alone won’t cut it. So Aleix Garcia decided to end any remaining hope with a stunning 22-meter volley for the 4-1. What a strike—signature goal material! After that, Bayer slowed things down, controlled the game, and let the traveling fans enjoy yet another masterclass on the road.

But as sweet as this win was, the real test is yet to come. On Wednesday, it’s Bayern Munich in the Champions League—a true showdown. Is Bayer 04 ready for the next big step in Europe? After this performance in Frankfurt, we say: Why the hell not?

"Moin, Meister!" – Bayer Takes Care of Business in Kiel

Bayer 04 cruised to a 2-0 win in Kiel—without breaking much of a sweat. It was the kind of game that felt like a well-planned move: you knew what needed to be done, executed everything smoothly, and in the end, every piece of furniture was exactly where it belonged. Holstein Kiel welcomed the reigning champions with open arms, but it quickly became clear that Leverkusen was simply playing in a different league—quite literally.

Because let’s be honest: the Holstein-Stadion feels more like a cozy second-division living room than a Bundesliga arena. Uneven pitch, tight dressing rooms—Bayer looked like a tourist who had accidentally wandered into the wrong league. But instead of complaining, the Werkself just got on with it. Patrik Schick opened the scoring early after a nice assist from Amine Adli, who marked his return to the starting lineup with a performance full of flair. Just before halftime, he added one himself—a delightful chip that floated into the net as gently as a seagull landing on the beach.

After the break? Bayer did what was necessary, but no more. Why should they? The Storks flapped their wings but never really threatened. Xabi Alonso’s team controlled the game with the calmness of a team that knows exactly how good it is. This was a typical "business-as-usual" win—the football equivalent of a well-organized spreadsheet, just with a bit more style.

With three points in the bag, the next stop is Frankfurt. The atmosphere there will be completely different, and the game will probably bring more fireworks than this routine victory up north. But one thing is clear: no matter where Bayer 04 plays—Kiel, Frankfurt, or anywhere else in Germany—this team looks unstoppable. And let’s be honest—that feels pretty damn good!

If Dominance Won Titles, Bayer Would Be Champions Already

Some football matches are forgettable. And then there are games like this – a 0-0 draw that felt like anything but. Bayer 04 completely outclassed Bayern Munich, dominated every aspect of the game, and left the so-called "Rekordmeister" looking like mere spectators. The only thing missing? A goal.

The BayArena was packed, the atmosphere electric. From the first whistle, it was clear: only one team had shown up to play football – and they were wearing black and red. Bayern? They seemed more interested in avoiding a loss than actually competing. When was the last time a Bayern Munich side failed to register a single shot on target in a Bundesliga match? Exactly. Meanwhile, Bayer 04 rained down 15 attempts on goal, only to be thwarted by Manuel Neuer’s reflexes – and, apparently, a goalpost that had secretly switched allegiances.

The agony reached its peak in the 60th minute when Nathan Tella’s spectacular bicycle kick narrowly missed the net. Five minutes later, his header was cleared off the line by Hiroki Ito. And then, stoppage time: Amine Adli, back from injury, saw his header land straight in Neuer’s arms, and Florian Wirtz’s shot whizzed just past the post. Bayer fans held their heads in disbelief. Meanwhile, Bayern had probably already started warming up their bus for the ride home, relieved beyond words.

Still, this wasn’t just a good performance – it was a statement. Granit Xhaka summed it up perfectly: “I can’t remember Bayern having a single shot.” And that’s the key takeaway here. Bayer weren’t just the better team – they were superior in every possible way. Holding 81% possession against Bayern, pinning them back in their own half, and dictating the game for 90 minutes? That’s no small feat.

But football can be cruel. Maybe the football gods are saving the reward for later. Maybe this was just a warning shot for the battles to come. Who knows?

One thing is certain: this team is ready for the title. And if they keep playing like this, luck will have no choice but to finally side with them. Next stop: Holstein Kiel. A newly promoted team that won’t make the mistake of underestimating Bayer 04. The mission is clear: just put the ball in the net. Everything else is already perfect.