Confetti, Headers, Reality Check

When it’s Carnival in Leverkusen and Bayer 04 scores three headers, you know the rules: we’re not just throwing sweets—our set pieces are flying like confetti.

This 4–0 against St. Pauli felt less like “nice home win” and more like the long-awaited “oh, there you are!” moment. Hjulmand had been missing exactly this blend: control, joy, and clarity. Suddenly we looked like a team that actually believes in its own plan again—moving the ball around as if we’d bought it in the club shop, and owning the air so completely St. Pauli might’ve needed an oxygen permit. Two headed goals in one minute, then another after the break: that’s not just efficiency, that’s a PowerPoint titled “Set Pieces Can Be Fun.”

And honestly, can we talk about our centre-backs? Quansah pops up early, Tapsoba adds one after half-time, and it’s become almost normal that our defenders contribute up front. Almost. Because when your CB is racking up goals and assists like loyalty points, something is going very right. Tapsoba apparently leading the “most direct goal involvements by a centre-back in the top five leagues” charts sounds like a Football Manager glitch—except it’s real, and it’s glorious. Also very Bayer 04 that even while celebrating we immediately whisper: “Please stay fit, please stay fit…”

Still, a 4–0 doesn’t erase what annoyed us in recent weeks. The inconsistency was real, the sense of inevitability wasn’t. That’s why this match matters—not because it’s St. Pauli, but because it’s us. It shows Hjulmand’s ideas can click even with a constantly reshuffled XI, new faces, and rotating line-ups.

Now the heavy weeks are coming: Olympiakos, then Union. And we all know Leverkusen in February can be either masterpiece or mild panic. But today? Fan goggles on, chest out—and please, keep this version. Preferably without the part where next week we’re guessing which Werkself is showing up.

One Point, Zero Buzz – When a Draw Feels Like Flat Soda

There are draws that feel like hard-earned progress, and then there are draws like this one in Mönchengladbach. On paper: unbeaten again, creeping into the top five, derby point secured. In reality: a nagging feeling that Bayer 04 left something important in the locker room – namely intensity, edge, and a sense of urgency before halftime.

This match wasn’t really about the 1:1, and it certainly wasn’t about goals or chances. It was about where this team currently stands in its development under Kasper Hjulmand. You can clearly see the idea: control the ball, dominate possession, dictate rhythm. Bayer 04 did all of that. What we didn’t do was hurt Gladbach with it. Possession without menace is just expensive cardio, and for 45 minutes that’s exactly what it looked like.

Gladbach played the role they love most against us: aggressive, compact, waiting for mistakes. And we obliged. The early goal conceded wasn’t bad luck, it was a symptom. Too casual, too clean, too convinced that structure alone would carry us through a derby away from home. It won’t. Not there. Not anywhere in the Bundesliga.

The second half was better, no doubt. More tempo, more presence, more of that Bayer 04 bite we expect. You could feel that the team wanted more, that the adjustments helped. But wanting more and actually forcing more are two different things. In the final third, we remained polite. And polite football rarely wins uncomfortable away games.

From a fan’s perspective, this draw is tolerable but telling. The team is clearly in transition, still learning how to balance control with aggression. The talent is there, the ceiling is high, but top teams don’t need 45 minutes to wake up. They impose themselves from minute one.

So yes, one point is one point. The streak lives on. But if Bayer 04 truly wants to stay among the league’s elite, these games need to feel less like lessons and more like statements. Otherwise, we’ll keep leaving stadiums thinking: fine result – but it should have been more.

Berlin’s Calling

It’s starting to get spooky. While elsewhere in Germany the DFB-Pokal still brings chaos, penalties, and accidental beer showers, our Werkself is treating this competition like a fine dining service: no frills, no fuss, but always three clean courses served on time. Against St. Pauli, the menu was clear: 3:0, another ticket to the semifinals, and not a bead of sweat wasted.

Let’s be fair – St. Pauli didn’t show up to just swap jerseys. They came with guts and grit, ready to throw punches. But facing Leverkusen’s defense these days is like trying to sneak into a nightclub guarded by a bouncer with a master’s in body language and a black belt in karate. Tapsoba? Clearing balls like he’s still mad about a missed train in Hamburg. And Andrich? Calm as a monk, aggressive as a caffeine-loaded lawnmower.

Then came the moment. Martin Terrier, who’s been flying under some radars lately, decided it was time to remind everyone he exists – with a stunning volley that screamed "yes, I *am* the man of the match." After that, it was textbook Werkself. Schick, who probably has a secret clause to only score important goals, added the second. And when Jonas Hofmann came off the bench and hammered in the third, it felt more like an exclamation mark than a goal.

By the way – that was already the fifth goal from a Leverkusen substitute in this Pokal run. If you’re wondering why we don’t panic when things get tight, just take a look at our bench. Other teams have backups. We have reinforcements.

Coach Hjulmand, as always, kept it cool. Berlin’s not booked yet, but the travel plans are clearly being drafted. His calm contrasts with the excitement we fans can’t quite hide. Because honestly, this team isn’t just good. It’s mature. It knows what it wants, how to get there – and, most importantly, that you don’t win anything by accident.

So no, we’re not dreaming. We’re just watching a team that’s finally playing like a serious contender. Keep pushing, boys. Keep grinding. And maybe, just maybe, this year the trip to Berlin ends with more than just a view of the Brandenburg Gate.

Colder Than the Stadium Sausage – Bayer 04 Win with Half the Effort

Well, who would’ve thought? Three wins in a row, a confident 3:1 away at Frankfurt, and all that with a performance that, at times, felt more like cruise control than high-speed football. But hey, when you’ve basically done your homework in the first 45 minutes, who are we to complain? At least not too much. Because what Bayer 04 showed in that opening half was exactly what we, as long-suffering fans, dream of: control, calmness, and cold-blooded efficiency. Two chances, two goals. A performance as sharp as the edge of a Bratwurst bun.

Arthur, usually more of a tactical workhorse than a goal threat, finally bagged his first Bundesliga goal. After 36 appearances, he found the back of the net – and maybe, just maybe, found himself a little more in this team. Let’s hope that wasn’t just a one-off highlight but the start of something more. Tillman followed up with his third goal in two matches – seriously, what did they feed him over the winter break? Whatever it was, pass it around.

Frankfurt, for their part, looked completely overwhelmed before the break, only to come roaring back like a typical home side in the second half. And Bayer? Well, we slipped into our familiar comfort zone: instead of killing the game off, we flirted with letting it slip. Same old Bayer, just with a better haircut.

Luckily for us, Frankfurt went down to ten men – thank you, Skhiri – and that took the edge off. But it still took until the 93rd minute for Garcia to finish things off, and that tells you everything about our second half: hesitant, wasteful, and a little too relaxed for comfort.

So yes, three points, a strong first half, and even the coach admitted the second 45 was... let’s say "suboptimal." But maybe that’s the good news: if the players themselves are already this self-critical, maybe we’re not just winning games – maybe we’re finally growing up as a team.

In short: this match was like a stadium sausage in winter – crispy on the outside, a bit too soft in the middle, but still exactly what you want when the scoreboard’s in your favor. And with three more points, it all tastes better anyway.

Bayer 04 Discovers Total Champions League Control

When Bayer 04 Leverkusen plays football these days, it sometimes feels like watching a high-end coffee machine in action: press a button, and everything just works. Against Villarreal, this wasn't a Champions League group stage match — it was a black-and-red masterclass. A 3-0 win that felt more like a tutorial. Villarreal? They were basically guests at their own defeat. With over 75% possession at times and pass accuracy stats that would make a metronome jealous, Bayer looked more in control than a Swiss train schedule.

Malik Tillman had his breakout night in a Bayer shirt – and of all places, on a pressure-filled European evening. In seasons past, these were the nights when Leverkusen's European dreams would quietly trip over their own shoelaces. But this time? Tillman scored twice, first by chasing down a hesitant keeper and rebounding the ball straight into the net – football’s answer to a pickpocket with perfect timing. The second? A clean strike with sniper-like precision. It was clinical, confident – dare we say, mature.

And then there’s Grimaldo. At this point, the guy scores in the Champions League more reliably than Deutsche Bahn announces delays. His volley to make it 3-0 was so well-timed and pure that you half expected UEFA to frame it in a museum. From there, it was all control: passing triangles, calm build-up play, and Villarreal players chasing shadows like confused interns on their first day.

Hjulmand on the sideline continues to radiate the calm of a man solving a Sudoku with his eyes closed. The team moves with the clarity of a plan, not a hope – something that hasn’t always been guaranteed in recent Bayer campaigns.

Sure, a little fan skepticism remains: it *was* just Villarreal. The upcoming play-off tie – either Olympiakos or Dortmund – will be a different animal. And if it’s Dortmund? Well, we know that script far too well: chaos, nerves, and at least three near heart attacks. But you know what? We’re ready for it. Because for once, Bayer doesn’t just feel like a team surviving Europe. It feels like a team that belongs here.

And that, dear friends, is a weirdly wonderful feeling.

Three Points, No Sparkle – But We’ll Take It

Finally! Three points. A clean sheet. No injuries. That sounds like a solid football evening at the BayArena – or at least a mildly satisfying one, given how 2026 had started for us. After three matches without a win, the 1–0 victory over Werder Bremen was exactly what the long-suffering Bayer fan needed: a heartbeat. Not a fireworks display, not a tactical masterpiece, but at least not another mess to clean up.

Sure, we could pretend to get excited – Lucas Vázquez scored his first goal for Bayer, and it turned out to be the match-winner. But let’s not kid ourselves: this engine is still sputtering. The Werkself is currently more old diesel van than electric turbo. Solid, loud, and just about reliable – but you wouldn't take it for a spin on the Autobahn.

The finishing? About as clinical as a drunk playing darts. Schick scored, but used his hand – maybe not the birthday gift he was hoping for. The rest of the chances? Mostly wasted, nervy, or comfortably handled by Bremen’s keeper.

That said, let’s not be ungrateful. Bremen were annoying, like soggy socks on a cold day – not dangerous per se, but definitely capable of making life miserable. But the defense held firm, Palacios made a very welcome return, and we actually scored a goal that counted. Progress!

And just to sweeten the evening: Bayern lost. Yes, really. Against Augsburg. Which means our glorious unbeaten Bundesliga season record from 2023/24 still stands. They might end up champions again – probably will – but they won’t do it without a scratch like we did. Small victories, people. We take what we can get.

So what’s the takeaway? This win was important – not pretty, not convincing, but necessary. For the table. For the confidence. For the sanity of every Bayer fan. There’s still work to be done, especially with Villarreal on the horizon. But at least we’re back on the right track. Not flying, not even cruising – but at least moving forward again. And for now, that’s enough.

Two Shots, Two Goals, Too Much Bayer – A Night in Athens to Forget

If you’ve ever wondered whether 738 passes are enough to win a Champions League game, here’s your answer: absolutely not. Welcome to the strange and beautiful world of Bayer 04 Leverkusen – the only club in Europe capable of controlling a match from start to finish and still walking off the pitch with a big fat zero on the scoreboard.

It ended 0:2 in Athens, not because Olympiacos were the better team, but because they were the colder one. Two shots on target, two goals, job done. Bayer, on the other hand? Possession, pressing, pretty patterns – and as toothless in front of goal as a retired Pomeranian after dental surgery.

This was classic Werkself: dominant, determined, delightful to watch – and completely allergic to scoring. Sure, it was Matchday 7 (because UEFA group stages are now more confusing than Greek tax law), but it felt like the first time this team really played like a knockout contender. Just without the result.

There were positives, of course. Blaswich made his debut, Vázquez returned to the starting XI, and Aleix García pinged 120 passes like a metronome on steroids. But for all the midfield orchestration, it was once again a masterclass in how to lose a game you’re supposedly in charge of.

Olympiacos did what Bayer couldn’t: they made their moments count. Meanwhile, the Werkself wasted chance after chance, running into Tzolakis – who now probably qualifies for honorary citizenship in Leverkusen, given how often he’s ruined our evenings.

And so we fans are left in familiar territory: proud of the performance, frustrated by the result, and stuck somewhere between belief and the usual Bayer blues. Yes, we’ll keep the faith – it’s part of the deal. But it’d be nice to get goals and points alongside the pretty passing charts.

Next up? Bremen at home. Perfect chance to show that this team can do more than just *almost* score. If not, we’ll be back here talking about pass accuracy and “expected goals” while the Champions League slips further away. Again.