A Heart for Suspense – Just Without the Happy Ending!

It's almost maddening: Bayer heads up to Bremen, takes the lead twice, and just as victory feels within reach, they end up returning to the Rhineland with only a single point. You’d almost think the team wanted to keep fans' adrenaline pumping to the last second. In some fairytale version of football, it’s sweet when the underdog manages a late equalizer. But for anyone who had to live through this weekend as a Bayer fan, a bit of stability in the closing minutes would be greatly appreciated.

Right from the start, this match promised fireworks. The floodlights at Bremen’s Weserstadion set a perfect stage, while Xabi Alonso surprised us with a starting eleven boasting seven changes from the Champions League draw against Stade Brest. And if you think rotation is a calming tactic, you don’t know Leverkusen. Victor Boniface wasted no time making his mark, converting a sharp cross from Frimpong to take an early lead. But that lead, however sweet, didn’t last long enough for us to enjoy a calm second half.

Bremen, equipped with indomitable fighting spirit, came back swinging in the second half. It wasn’t the first time we fans had to sweat through a powerful header, and Ducksch’s equalizer certainly raised the pulse. It was one of those “maybe things will calm down now” moments. But of course not. Leverkusen immediately upped the tempo, finding themselves back in front thanks to a bit of luck and a Bremener’s own goal. It was an odd one, sure, but just maybe the kind of luck you need for a solid away win.

Still, calm endings seem to evade us lately. Just like in the Champions League, we failed to hold onto a lead, and Bremen didn’t let up. When Romano Schmid sent his shot home in the 90th minute, the disappointment on the Leverkusen side was palpable. After so much effort to protect the lead, seeing it slip away in the last moment stung.

The return of the "draw curse" is certainly wearing on us. This team is overflowing with potential—as we saw in Bremen time and again. Our offensive trio of Boniface, Wirtz, and Frimpong sparkles with energy and danger, yet sometimes struggles to turn that excitement into results. Frimpong’s tribute to his injured teammate Adli was a beautiful moment that underscored the team’s solidarity. And with Lukas Hradecky celebrating his 200th Bundesliga game, we’re grateful for the Bayer legend in goal who continues to give his all, game after game.

What remains is to look forward. It’s early in the season, the challenges are growing, and the team has shown they’re capable of exceptional performances. This week brings two home games—a chance to regain the stability we need. Fans can look forward to the upcoming Cup clash against Elversberg and the Bundesliga showdown with Stuttgart. Both are opportunities to see Bayer in winning form once again—and, hopefully, to celebrate a satisfying happy ending.

Is it raining goals in Brittany? Unfortunately, not for us!

What a tough grind. In the Champions League, we usually expect magic moments, spectacular goals, and a dominant Bayer 04 that shows even the toughest opponents how it’s done. But not in Brittany, and certainly not against Stade Brest, a team that fully embraced the underdog role even before the match. It ended 1-1 – a result that feels as lukewarm as a Monday morning when your coffee is cold. There was more in it for us, wasn’t there?

The pre-game circumstances were as bizarre as they come. Victor Boniface, our goal machine, had to stay home after a car accident, and Xabi Alonso rotated his starting eleven by eight positions – which felt just as disjointed on the pitch as it sounds. Of course, we understand that even the backup players need trust and match practice, but sometimes you can’t help but wish we’d just field our strongest lineup and get the job done. While the Breton fans were rocking the stands with surprising energy in a stadium so small that you briefly wondered if we’d somehow dropped down to the Europa League, Bayer 04 struggled to get into the game.

The match itself meandered for the most part. Sure, Florian Wirtz dazzled us again with an early goal – something we can apparently rely on this season. Wirtz and early goals are like bread and butter right now. And yet, just as we were starting to enjoy the 1-0 lead, Brest hit back with an equalizer that came as suddenly as a November storm on the coast. The flow of the game? Anything but regal. At no point did it feel like we had things fully under control, and all those substitutions only added to the lack of rhythm.

So what do we take away from this? One point. Sure, in the group stage, every point counts, and we remain unbeaten. But let’s be honest – no true Werkself fan can be satisfied with that. Particularly gutting was the foul on Amine Adli in the dying minutes. Watching a player being stretchered off in pain puts all sporting ambitions into perspective. The injury clouded the result even further, leaving us with real concerns. That’s exactly what we didn’t want to take away from a game that was supposed to be a straightforward task.

We have to take the Champions League seriously, even against the so-called “small” teams. Stade Brest might not sound like a big name in European football, but the team from Brittany has already given Sturm Graz and Salzburg plenty of problems. And now, us too. We had hoped to brush these opponents aside on our way to the knockout rounds, but that’s the Champions League for you, and as they say, there are no easy games. Still, it leaves a bitter taste. Three points in Brest would’ve put us in the driver’s seat for the knockout stage. Now we’re in a position where every point will have to be fought for.

But hey, we’re still Bayer 04, and there’s no reason to hang our heads. The next matches are coming quickly – in the Bundesliga and in the cup, there’s no time to dwell on it. Let’s just hope the rotation doesn’t become the norm, and that we bounce back in full strength soon. The fans at the BayArena surely wouldn’t mind a few clear wins in the coming weeks – and especially a commanding performance in the Champions League.

Because one thing is clear: A 1-1 draw in Brest isn’t enough for us. We want more. Always.

Home Fortress Reloaded: Leverkusen Takes Back the BayArena

Finally, it's back: that familiar feeling when you walk into the BayArena knowing that no one's leaving here with points except us. After the unfortunate draw against Holstein Kiel and the international break, Bayer 04 has made a strong comeback against Eintracht Frankfurt with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. This wasn't just a win, it was a statement. Our home strength, which had been questioned a bit recently, is back. And just in time!

You might think the team would have crumbled mentally after the early penalty drama, when Boniface missed from the spot and Marmoush put Frankfurt in front. But no! Xabi Alonso has clearly injected a real winning mentality into the squad—no matter what happens, the boys stay focused. The coach spoke after the game about "great mentality and superb togetherness," and it showed. Where heads might have dropped in the past, this time they shifted up a gear. Robert Andrich, who was seemingly everywhere on the pitch, scored the deserved equalizer after a beautiful combination—this was no fluke, it was pure determination.

And then there was Boniface, who surely had to gather himself after missing that penalty but ended up being the hero of the night. His header in the 72nd minute to make it 2-1 wasn’t just beautifully worked, it symbolized this team’s comeback spirit. Mistakes happen—what counts is how you respond. And Boniface responded like a true striker.

What I personally loved: it wasn’t just the usual suspects shining. Sure, Andrich and Boniface were brilliant, but Martin Terrier, who provided his first assist for us, and the ever-present Granit Xhaka, who set the tone with a shot in the first minute, also played key roles in our dominance. And hey, 27 shots! That shows we're not just playing well but constantly creating danger. It was a tough battle, yes, but these are the games you have to win if you want to compete at the top.

Of course, we can’t forget the man between the posts: Lukas Hradecky celebrated his 300th Bundesliga game—the first foreign goalkeeper to ever reach that milestone! The fact that this landmark came against his former club made it even more special. While he couldn’t stop Marmoush’s penalty, he once again showed why he's so important to us. And his self-deprecating comment, "I guess that means I’m an old man now!" shows that despite all seriousness, he never loses his sense of humor.

This wasn’t just a victory. It was a statement! The return of the home strength we might have briefly lost earlier this season. Now things will come thick and fast, with the trip to Brest for the Champions League and then Bremen in the Bundesliga. But with the form these guys are showing right now, nothing should scare us.

So, dear Bayer family, savor this win! We’re back where we belong—and that’s not just the BayArena, but clearly at the top of the Bundesliga!

120 Years of Bayer – And Then This: When the Newcomer Crashes the Party

"Punkte verschenkt" – that's a feeling every Bayer fan knows all too well. You're up 2-0 after eight minutes, the celebration for the 120th anniversary is in full swing, and yet you only walk away with a point. Against Holstein Kiel. A newly promoted team. At home. In the sold-out BayArena, where the atmosphere was supposed to be jubilant. But somehow, there was that familiar sinking feeling in the pit of every Leverkusen fan's stomach: the tendency to turn sure victories into nail-biters.

Those first few minutes were perfect. Boniface and Hofmann both found the net, and Palacios – the Argentinian maestro celebrating his birthday – orchestrated both goals. 2-0, and it all looked like a relaxed afternoon, another routine win for Xabi Alonso in his 100th game as Bayer's manager. But instead of killing off Kiel, we let them back into the game. Why? Well, that’s what we’re all wondering. "Unfocused," Hradecky said. "Not smart enough," Alonso added. Whatever it was, it felt like someone flipped a switch – the wrong one, unfortunately.

Then, just before halftime, that goal came. Geschwill headed in after a corner – a typical Bayer goal to concede, if we're being honest. Set-piece goals have plagued this team for years. And what did Kiel do? They fought back. Not with dazzling play, but with persistence. Kiel fought, you have to give them that. But it wasn’t like they were outplaying us. It was Bayer 04 making things hard for themselves. There were plenty of chances, but the third goal never came. And then there was that penalty. Frimpong brought Gigovic down, Arp converted with ease. Suddenly, it was 2-2, and we fans were left wondering: "This can't be happening, can it?" But it did. Again.

The bitter part of this draw isn't just the dropped points. It was supposed to be a day of celebration: 120 years of Bayer 04, Xabi's 100th match, a packed stadium – and yet, in the end, we're left with a sour taste. Not because Kiel was so strong, but because we weakened ourselves. Hradecky called it "giving away points," and that’s spot on. You have to ask why, after such a dominant start, we stopped playing football. Why let the opponent back in instead of putting the game to bed?

Of course, there were positives: Palacios’ strong return to the starting eleven, Boniface scoring again, and the fact that this team is technically operating at a very high level. But that alone isn’t enough to win games like these. It takes more – consistency, cleverness, a little more ruthlessness perhaps. Because if you want to compete for the title, or at least stay near the top, you can't let games like this slip away.

And so we fans are left with mixed feelings once again. On the one hand, we know how good this team can be. On the other hand, we know how they can sometimes get in their own way. Sure, now there's the international break, followed by Eintracht Frankfurt at home. And maybe this little pause will help clear our heads. But one thing is certain: if Bayer 04 truly wants to compete at the top this season, they need to learn how to close out these kinds of games.

Milan or Madrid – as long as it’s a Champions League win!

It’s that time again: the Champions League has returned to the BayArena. And what a start! A 1-0 win over AC Milan, a sold-out stadium, and the best floodlit atmosphere you can imagine. There’s hardly anything better than Champions League nights in Leverkusen, when our boys show the giants of Europe that this "little" Bayer town can play with the best of them.

But honestly, a 1-0? It felt like we could’ve been up by two or three goals by halftime. Some Bayer fans might have found themselves wondering why we always seem to make it so hard on ourselves. It’s like the football gods want to keep things exciting for us. If you know Bayer, you know: clear leads don’t come without some nerve-racking moments. Still, credit where it’s due—at least there was no total heart attack this time. Well, apart from when Theo Hernandez hit the crossbar near the end, causing the entire stadium to collectively hold its breath.

Tactically, the game was textbook stuff. Xabi Alonso has definitely elevated this team to a new level, one we’ve been missing for quite some time. We calmly dismantled AC Milan, switching play quickly from side to side and picking them apart with through balls. Aleix Garcia, in particular, was a game-changer—it's like he has eyes in the back of his head. The way he sent passes to Frimpong and the others was just beautiful to watch. He’s also the guy who set up Grimaldo with that crucial pass before Frimpong’s shot was saved, and Boniface slammed it home. It was the kind of goal that shows we’re capable of scoring pretty as well as scrappy goals when it counts.

Boniface? He’s a joy to watch. Hard to believe it was his first Champions League goal ever, but it feels like many more will follow. You get the sense with him that he’s built for this level—calm and clinical. That’s exactly the kind of striker you need in Europe. No fancy tricks, no unnecessary dribbles—just put the ball in the net and move on. Perfect.

Sure, towards the end, we had that familiar feeling as Bayer fans: retreating into our own half, the opponent gaining momentum, and us sweating it out. Why does it always have to be like that? Only the football gods know. But this time, we held firm. Hradecky was there when we needed him, and the defense held, even as Milan threw everything at us. That’s the difference we’ve missed in past seasons. In the old days, we probably would’ve conceded a late equalizer, but not this time. Is it possible that we’re finally becoming a team that can see out tight games? It sure looks that way. Alonso seems to have turned the Werkself into a squad that doesn’t fear any opponent in the Champions League. And if we keep this up, the BayArena could witness a few more magical nights this season. Because one thing is clear: this team has what it takes to deliver.

But now, we turn our focus back to the Bundesliga. Holstein Kiel is coming up, and after the Champions League euphoria, it’s time to stay grounded! We know how it goes: these are exactly the kind of games where we could trip up. Still, with the form this team is in, nothing should stand in our way against the promoted side. Let’s see if Boniface can keep his streak going.

Bayer 04 Holds Bayern

A draw at the Allianz Arena – normally, only Bayern fans would find reason to cheer. But after last Saturday's 1-1 against the record champions, most Leverkusen supporters probably greeted the result with a satisfied grin. Why? Because Xabi Alonso's team didn’t just snatch a point; they once again proved that under his leadership, Bayer 04 has matured significantly.


“If you want to beat Bayern, you have to know how to defend,” a wise person once said. And that’s exactly what Bayer 04 did. From the first whistle, it was clear Alonso’s game plan revolved around keeping Bayern’s offense at bay, with discipline, fighting spirit, and a good dose of bravery. Just sitting back isn’t enough against Bayern, as we all know. But Leverkusen showed that they’ve mastered the balancing act between a compact defensive approach and the occasional sharp counterattack.

When Robert Andrich struck coldly in the 31st minute with Bayer 04's first real chance, it was no fluke. A corner kick, a smart layoff from Xhaka, and a precise finish – pure efficiency. Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic responded just eight minutes later with a superb long-range shot, demonstrating that Bayern could still flash their individual brilliance. But what happened after that was truly impressive: Bayern kept pressing, and Leverkusen kept defending. And they did it with a resolve we haven’t always seen from them.

Let’s be honest, this wasn’t a match for the football romantics. But these are exactly the kinds of games that elevate a team to the next level. Leverkusen knew they wouldn’t have much possession on this day (31%), but they made the most of it. It wasn’t the dazzling attacking show we’ve seen from Bayer 04 in recent matches, but it was a game in which the team nailed its defensive duties. Earning a point in Munich is also proof that this side has matured.

Xabi Alonso summed it up: “We were ready to suffer.” And that’s exactly what makes great teams – the understanding that you don’t always need to shine, but sometimes you just need to get the job done. And that’s exactly what Bayer 04 did. Even though Bayern hit the post twice and dominated possession, the final score mattered. And from a Leverkusen perspective, a 1-1 draw reads pretty well.

A few years ago, this is the type of game Leverkusen would have lost, especially in Munich, where they often took a beating. But those days seem to be over. Bayer 04 has now managed to go unbeaten in four consecutive Bundesliga matches against Bayern. This isn’t just a flattering statistic – it’s a sign that something is truly coming together in Leverkusen. A team that can hold its own in the big matches. A team that’s starting to show some teeth and not just rely on its finesse.

Of course, one point in Munich doesn’t mean we should get ahead of ourselves, but it seems like Xabi Alonso is steering the ship with a clear philosophy. Stability and efficiency are two qualities that Bayer 04 has long been missing. Sure, there’s still room for improvement – the players themselves admit that, as Granit Xhaka pointed out after the game. But if you can stand toe-to-toe with Bayern, you have every right to feel satisfied.

With this point in the bag, Bayer 04 can now focus on their next challenge: AC Milan is coming to Leverkusen! The Champions League will bring a different kind of match, but one thing is clear: Bayer 04 has shown they’re ready to deliver, even on the biggest stages. It’ll be exciting to see how the team performs on Tuesday night.

In conclusion, the point in Munich was hard-fought and well-earned. With stability and efficiency, Bayer 04 has positioned itself as a serious contender to Bayern’s throne. And they’ve done it in style.

An Own Goal and Seven Strikes – When the Defense Takes a Day Off

There are matches that make your heart race, and then there are games like Bayer 04’s 4-3 victory over VfL Wolfsburg – a rollercoaster ride for the nerves and a wild blend of joy and frustration. As a Bayer fan, you’ve likely seen it all, but this matchday, the Werkself were particularly creative, both in scoring goals and in, well, not defending.

A curious own goal from newcomer Nordi Mukiele in the fifth minute set the tone for this spectacle, and that in his starting debut no less. Welcome to Leverkusen, Nordi! But the mishap was quickly shaken off, as Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah managed to take the lead, only for Bayer to, once again, find themselves back in trouble. As is often the case with Bayer, no lead is safe, and sure enough, two goals conceded before halftime turned what could have been a comfortable situation into a 2-3 deficit.

But if there's one thing you know as a Leverkusen fan, it’s that the team never gives up. Head coach Xabi Alonso made the right changes at halftime, bringing fresh energy and once again showing his golden touch. Piero Hincapie equalized just minutes after the restart, and it felt as if the team regained its confidence. Yet one question remains: How many times does Bayer want to make things difficult for themselves this season?

The numbers tell a clear story: nine goals conceded in four games. For a team that only let in 24 goals across 34 matches last season, this is a real wake-up call. Not only Granit Xhaka, but many fans are concerned. It’s great to have a thrilling attack, but when the defense is leaking like a sieve, you have to ask how long this will hold up. Comparing this season’s defensive performance to the title-winning stability of last year is almost painful. Where there was once discipline and structure, there is now inconsistency and carelessness.

At least the offense keeps fighting to secure the three points, which is one major bright spot in this young season. Newcomer Victor Boniface, with his last-minute goal that once again sent the BayArena into raptures, is showing he’s not only a great scorer but also has nerves of steel. It was his third crucial goal in the dying moments already this season – a true ace up Xabi Alonso’s sleeve. But while fans celebrated the late redemption, many couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling: If the defense continues like this, things could get tough against the upcoming opponents, especially Bayern Munich.

Of course, it's wonderful to see the offense clicking so well. Players like Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick regularly create magical moments that lift you out of your seat. But when the defense wobbles so badly behind them, you have to wonder how long this balancing act can last. Three goals conceded against RB Leipzig, and now another three against Wolfsburg. It feels like Leverkusen still hasn’t found the right balance. Dominance in possession and creativity going forward are in stark contrast to a fragile backline that regularly puts itself on the back foot.

So what’s the solution? Xabi Alonso and his team now face a crucial phase. With an away match against Bayern Munich and a Champions League clash with AC Milan looming, these will be real tests. The time for experiments is over. Leverkusen needs to solidify defensively if they want to avoid being ruthlessly picked apart in these upcoming challenges. The key will be finding the right balance between attacking flair and defensive discipline. That won't be easy – but if you know Bayer 04, you know this team is capable of surprises.

Until then, fans can only hope that the Werkself will show a strong response against the record champions. Maybe the prospect of a big game will bring the sharpness back to the defense. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be exciting. But maybe a slightly less nerve-wracking game would be a nice change of pace for once.