“Bochum, we have a problem!” – The Werkself Hits 50 and Stays Unbeaten

With a resounding 5-0 victory against VfL Bochum, Bayer 04 Leverkusen extends its impressive streak, remaining unbeaten in 50 consecutive competitive matches. A game full of drama and twists, this match further cements the Werkself as an unstoppable force on the pitch. The evening at the sold-out Vonovia Ruhrstadion started promisingly for Bochum fans but ended in a football debacle that few could have foreseen. As early as the 15th minute, Felix Passlack’s professional foul led to his team’s early reduction to ten men—a clear turning point that shattered Bochum’s plans.

After a bold start by Bochum and an early crossbar hit by Granit Xhaka, it was Patrik Schick who opened the scoring. Just before halftime, Victor Boniface confidently converted a penalty to make it 2-0 at the break. The show continued in the second half: Amine Adli, Josip Stanisic, and Alejandro Grimaldo sealed the final 5-0 score. A true offensive onslaught by the Werkself, sending a clear message with this performance.

Xabi Alonso once again demonstrated his golden touch with his rotation strategy. He made eight changes compared to the Europa League semi-final against AS Roma. Notably, Arthur, who provided two assists, and the striking duo Schick and Boniface, who both scored, seamlessly integrated and showcased their class. At the post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso expressed satisfaction and emphasized the significance of the early red card for the course of the game. “After the red card, the game was different. We are satisfied with the result. Today’s victory was important.”

Amine Adli also had every reason to be happy: “I am very happy with the win and my goal. It is an important victory. We will continue and prepare well for Saturday.” Jonathan Tah, who played his 350th competitive match for Bayer 04, emphasized the team’s unwavering motivation: “We don’t go on the field saying we just don’t want to lose. We go on the field to win every game.”

The media were unanimous: the early red card was the game’s turning point. “Red card as turning point” headlined kicker, and FAZ spoke of a “severe and decisive setback” for Bochum. The Rheinische Post particularly highlighted the Werkself’s impressive streak, and Bild joked, “He (Xabi Alonso, ed.) is only 42 and already celebrates his 50th!” With the 5-0 victory in Bochum, Bayer 04 Leverkusen set a historic milestone: for the first time since FC Bayern Munich, a Bundesliga club has remained unbeaten in all away league matches of a season. With 29 to 3 shots on goal and over 60 percent possession, the Werkself dominated impressively.

The focus now shifts to the season finale against FC Augsburg. On Saturday, May 18, Schwarz-Rot will host Augsburg at the BayArena, aiming to crown the season with another victory and receive the championship trophy. After the match, fans and team celebrated the 50th unbeaten game in a row—with golden balloons and exuberant mood. A fitting end to a memorable evening for all Bayer 04 fans!