Fifth win in fifth Europa League match

Bayer 04 progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League as group winners thanks to a composed performance against BK Häcken. Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick with his first goal of the season scored the goals in the 2:0 victory at the time-honoured Ullevi in Gothenburg, Sweden. For the Werkself, Gustavo Puerta made his starting XI debut, Noah Mbamba his Europa League debut and Ayman Aourir his first professional appearance.

With the win, the team got the job done and secured the group win. It wasn't easy in the conditions and our game wasn't particularly spectacular, but it was very respectable.  Patrik Schick also scored after his long injury, which was a nice moment. We need him, his quality and his personality.

In the games up to the winter break, we have to keep going. To do so, the team must remain highly concentrated and focussed. I think every player realises that. We still can't buy anything for what we've achieved so far.

The Bundesliga home clash against Borussia Dortmund awaits the Werkself next Sunday, 3 December 2023 (kick-off: 5.30 p.m.). The next match at the BayArena is just three days later, with the DFB Cup round of 16 against second-division side SC Paderborn 07 on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The English week is rounded off with the Bundesliga away match at VfB Stuttgart (Sunday, 10 December 2023, 3.30 p.m.).

The start has been made again

The first of eight competitive matches up to the winter break has been mastered: on matchday 12, the Werkself won 3:0 at Werder Bremen. Thanks to the win, Bayer 04 jumped back to the top of the table. And it really is incredible. Once again, one player stood out with his attacking quality: Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard scored the 3:0 for Bayer, his seventh goal of the season - and that in the Bundesliga alone, with two goals in the Europa League to boot. Not bad at all for a left-back. The left-back seems to particularly enjoy playing away from home, as he has scored five of his seven Bundesliga goals in foreign stadiums, plus one assist. That means Grimaldo was involved in at least one goal in five of the six away games, which is simply crazy. All in all, another successful Saturday afternoon for the Werkself supporters and a nice birthday present for our coach.

Bayer continue to dominate

After winning eleven competitive matches in a row, the Werkself started today's home game against Union Berlin with a broad chest and their usual dominant possession football. Union were deep in their own half and relied on a close-meshed defensive wall. It was Grimaldo who put the Werkself 1:0 ahead at half-time. And then it was the set pieces in the second half that put Bayer 3:0 ahead. And last but not least: the substitutes performed. Shortly after their substitution, Adli and Tella set off on their journey after a free-kick against us in front of their own sixteen and Tella netted for a deserved 4:0 final score. Bayer continued to dominate even after travelling in Europe.

Tough evening with a happy ending

The Werkself not only secured their place in the knockout round of the UEFA Europa League with a last-minute victory at Qarabag Agdam last night, but also set another record with their fourth win in their fourth group game, winning four European Cup games in a row for the first time in the club's history.

The opponents endeavoured to set the tone offensively. On the other hand, Black & Red struggled to get through the defence. The majority of the game could be described as follows: Qarabag pressed hard, the Werkself tried hard. However, neither side scored until stoppage time. Then Grimaldo headed the ball onto the upper arm of Qarabag's Medvedev in the penalty area and Victor Boniface converted the resulting penalty. All in all, a tough evening with a happy ending and that's what counts.

The run continues

The Werkself remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season after the tenth matchday. The Werkself underlined their ambitions with a 3:2 away win in Hoffenheim. It had long looked like a certain victory with a 2-0 half-time lead, but ten minutes into the second half it was suddenly 2-2. However, the Werkself were once again able to hit back and take a three-pointer from Sinsheim.

The English week continues and on Thursday they travel to Azerbaijan. After winning the first leg 5:1, the B team should be able to do the same there. A win would be important because we would then already be group winners after four matchdays and could continue to rotate significantly in the remaining two matches of the group stage.

The main thing is to go on

Bayer got off lightly today in the 2nd round of the cup at Sandhausen, even if the victory at the end of 5:2 looked more in keeping with the score. In the end, our individual quality prevailed. Our coach rotated the starting lineup eight times, perhaps a bit too much, but the old rule is: never underestimate your opponent, no matter in which league he plays. The exhaustion of the substitution quota in the 60th minute shows that the Werkself reacted in time. As of now, we're regenerating and Saturday we'll continue at Hoffenheim. And Sunday our logo will be in the pot for the draw for the third round of the cup. That's the only thing that really counts in the cup.

Work victory also gives therre points

It was a tough job in the final phase of today's 2-1 home win against SC Freiburg. The Werkself could have closed the bag early, because especially in the first half, the Bayer was more than dominant. But unfortunately, despite a pass rate that was four times as high as Freiburg's, the decisive punch was missing. Only a more than brilliant individual performance by Flo Wirtz gave us a 1-0 halftime lead. Jonas Hofmann can be relied on, which he proved with the 2:0. Then, however, the connection after a corner (once again) and somehow I had the feeling, gleicht still falls the balance. But the Bayer also distinguishes this season that he then brings such games over time. Summa summarum work victory, another three points and the table leadership further inne. That lets you relax and enjoy the Sunday evening.