Successful end to the year

Bayer also recorded a win in the last Bundesliga match of the 2023 calendar year. The goals in the 4:0 (3:0) home win against VfL Bochum came from Patrik Schick with a hat-trick in the first half (30', 31', 45.+1) and Victor Boniface after the break (69'). The Werkself are now unbeaten in 25 matches in all competitions and go into the Christmas break as Bundesliga leaders. All in all, an absolutely successful end to the year.

The Werkself now head into a well-deserved Christmas break. After the turn of the year, the ball will be rolling on the training pitch from Wednesday, 3.1.2024. Just four days later, on Sunday, 7.1.2024, our team will play its first test against FC Venice from the Italian Serie B.

We look forward to 2024 and would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a peaceful Advent season, a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2024.

Werkself also hold their own against Frankfurt

Three goals, three points. Bayer beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3:0 in the penultimate league match of the calendar year and once again impressed with their play. Even if our curve has incited a great chorus, the fact remains: after half a year, nobody has yet won the title. On Wednesday against Bochum and next year we have to continue at full throttle.

Nevertheless, there are reasons to celebrate, as the Werkself have once again achieved a club record: 39 points after the first 15 league games of a season is unprecedented. In fact, only Borussia Dortmund (twice) and FC Bayern Munich (three times) have achieved this points haul. Consistency before the break is also responsible for this run, as Bayer 04 have now conceded no goals in the first half for the ninth time - more often than any other team in the Bundesliga.

Nine changes and still 5:1

Nine changes compared to the Stuttgart game and still only national players (whether A or U21 or U19) are on the pitch and a 16-year-old is substituted at the end. And how well that went, because the Werkself beat Molde 5:1. It's just a shame that they conceded a goal, because Nikolas Lomb, as our team's third goalkeeper, would have been happy with a clean sheet.

The Werkself have now won all six games in the Europa League group stage and, with 18 points and 19 goals to 3, have achieved the best result of any team in the international competitions. An intermediate step. Unfortunately, the statistic that a team with 18 points in the group stage has never won the Cup still applies. But as our coach said in the pre-match press conference: "Let's change that this year."

Werkself scores at third place in Stuttgart

It wasn't just labelled a top match, it was one too: The clash between the third-placed team from Swabia and the leaders from Leverkusen featured plenty of pace, intense duels and numerous finishing moves. Florian Wirtz equalised the lead of Stuttgart, who were superior in the first half, shortly after the break. As a result, the Werkself remain the only unbeaten team in Europe's top five leagues in the 2023/24 season.

Bayer 04 thus remained unbeaten in their 22nd competitive match this season (19 wins, 3 draws) - only twice in German professional football has a team started a season with an even better record: Werkself themselves as a second-division team in the 1978/79 promotion season (23 games) and Hamburger SV in 1982/83 (24). Meanwhile, Bayer 04 are undefeated in Stuttgart for the twelfth time in a row - no other club in professional football has currently gone so long without defeat away from home.

And these figures for the match are also impressive: the players on the pitch fired a total of 40 shots on goal, 18 of which were scored by Leverkusen.

Bayer logo in the draw pot again after win against Paderborn

The Werkself deservedly progressed to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup with a 3:1 win against Paderborn. The team's progression to the next round of the competition was the result of an assured performance, numerous eye-catching moves and three goals from three different scorers. We actually had enough chances to decide the game earlier. However, the final pass was often missing in the final third. After the 2:1 it wasn't so easy, the third goal was then very important.

The action continues in three days' time: Stuttgart away on Sunday, then Molde at home (no doubt with a full B team), then Frankfurt and Bochum at home. It's all in a row and everyone is looking forward to Christmas. But Sunday evening is also the cup draw and among the eight balls there is one with our logo.

We remain unbeaten

It was already clear before kick-off of the top match against Borussia Dortmund that the Werkself would lead the table after the 13th matchday. Heavy snowfall in Munich made it impossible for Bayern to play. But: we take care of ourselves and not the others.

Nevertheless, Dortmund are now the only team to have scored against us. But honestly, Dortmund declare themselves Bayern hunters and want to shine with attractive attacking football. But what we saw in the stadium yesterday, despite the 1:1, was a clearly dominant Werkself and a visiting team that defended with eleven men in their own penalty area from the 15th minute onwards. And then there was a coach who was more of a crybaby and rightly got his comeuppance in the media today. For him, a penalty not given to BVB was controversial. But please Mr Terzic, take a look at the scene a few minutes earlier in Ruhr against Pala. The referee certainly didn't favour BVB yesterday.

The more difficult game for us is certainly the cup match against Paderborn on Wednesday. That's what SC Freiburg thought in the last round, but then the Paderborn logo was in the draw. It won't be easy, especially as we'll be rotating again, as we're travelling to Stuttgart next Sunday. But we remain positive, even if our unbeaten streak is bound to come to an end at some point - everyone here knows that.

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.).