We no longer know how to give up

In a game that felt like a rollercoaster ride, Bayer once again proved that giving up is a foreign concept to them. In faraway Baku against Qarabag Agdam, the Werkself's fate initially seemed sealed - trailing 2-0 at half-time, they were in danger of suffering their first competitive defeat in 34 games without defeat. But in a thrilling turning point, Xabi Alonso's side showed remarkable comeback quality and fought out a 2-2 draw.

The first half did not go according to plan for the Werkself. With eight fresh faces compared to the 2-0 derby win in Cologne, Bayer visibly struggled to get into the game. The hosts from Azerbaijan made the most of their chances: Benzia put Qarabag ahead in the 26th minute, followed by Juninho, who extended the lead to 2-0 shortly before half-time.

But as we all know, half-time in soccer is sometimes an eternity. With the substitution of Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick, the Werkself managed to turn the tide. Florian Wirtz, known for his technical finesse, found the net with a flawless lob in the 70th minute, and Patrik Schick equalized with a skillful header in stoppage time. Proof that Leverkusen can keep a cool head even under pressure.

The post-match gesture by the Werkself players, who gave their shirts to the fans who had traveled with them, was particularly noteworthy. This was in recognition of the support and the effort the fans had put in to attend the furthest away game in the club's history.

Statistically, Bayer 04 Leverkusen remain unbeaten in the Europa League and have an impressive record. With this draw, the Werkself continue their run and are optimistic about the upcoming games, including the second leg against Qarabag in Leverkusen.

In the meantime, the focus turns to the Bundesliga, where a home game against VfL Wolfsburg awaits on Sunday. This will be followed by the decisive second leg of the Europa League, which will give Bayer 04 the opportunity to demonstrate their fighting spirit and ambitions once again.

Leverkusen have shown once again that they are not only a team with talent, but also with great morale. The Werkself earned not only a point in Azerbaijan, but also further respect and recognition in European soccer.