How to Drop Two Points in Bremen While Playing with an Extra Man

There are football matches that leave you staring into your alcohol-free beer (seriously), wondering: What the hell just happened? Welcome to Bremen. Welcome to the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Welcome to Bayer 04 Leverkusen – the club that somehow manages to make even a man-advantage feel like a liability in stoppage time.

And yet, it all started so beautifully. Nathan Tella, turbo-charged with Rhineland rocket fuel, tore through the Werder backline like a hot bratwurst knife through butter. He squared the ball to Schick, who finished like it was the easiest thing in the world. 1:0 after five minutes. Bremen still tying their boots. A dream start, we thought. Finally some positive vibes after that painful opening defeat to Hoffenheim.

But we Leverkusen fans know better. No match without drama. And given the football gods' well-documented love for last-minute chaos on the Weser, we feared the worst—even at 2:0.

Next up: Malik Tillman. Making his Bayer debut, the lad pulled off a piece of ball control that should earn him honorary circus status. Chest, shoulder, volley – goal. 2:0. Bremen reeling. The game looked locked up tighter than Boniface’s medical records.

Then, of course, came the penalty. Tape, full of eagerness and inexperience, clattered into his man. VAR didn’t miss it. Schmid converted. Bremen back in the match just before halftime. A groan rolled through the Leverkusen fan block. Not panic yet – just that familiar, sinking feeling.

Still, the second half kicked off with renewed hope. Schick stepped up for his second penalty of the day and slotted it home like it was a Thursday morning training session. Bremen down to ten men, Bayer back up by two goals. Surely this time, this time, we’d bring it home? But no. Of course not.

Suddenly, Flekken decided to role-play as Manuel Neuer’s evil twin, came flying out of his box, and got completely outsmarted by Schmidt, who made it 3:2. From then on, the chaos switch was flipped. Bremen smelled blood, our defense smelled confusion, and in minute 90+4, that man Coulibaly – yes, the same Coulibaly who served up the first goal with a horror pass – popped up in the right place at the wrong time (for us) and slammed the ball into the net. 3:3. Final whistle. Weserstadion in delirium. And us? Sitting there, stunned, blinking, trying to make sense of it all.

So what’s the takeaway here? Bayer 04 led twice, by two goals each time, and still didn’t win. Not because Bremen were world-beaters – but because we once again threw away control in the key moments. The build-up was slick, the goals were nice, Tillman impressed, Schick is back on the scoresheet... but the concentration? The killer instinct? Missing in action.

Maybe that’s the story of our summer under the Bayer Cross. Players out, players in, system still loading, team chemistry still buffering. Erik ten Hag was brought in to stabilise things, but right now, even a man-advantage feels more like a curse than a blessing.

Still, if you're looking for silver linings: Bayer are now unbeaten in 35 straight away games. Sounds like a record? Sure does. Does it feel like one? Not really. Especially when you’re letting 18-year-olds with redemption arcs break your heart in stoppage time.

Next up: Frankfurt at home, under the Friday night lights of the BayArena after the international break. Feels like the perfect time to actually start the season. And maybe, just maybe, win a match.

Ten Hag, Ten Hakt – Bayer Trips Over the Season’s Starting Line

Well, that’s just great. The new Bundesliga season kicks off and our boys are already flat on the ground. A 1:2 home defeat to Hoffenheim in the BayArena, and right on the Bundesliga debut of Erik ten Hag. All summer long we’ve been dreaming of a shiny new start, of controlled possession football à la Ajax and Manchester, and what do we get? Hoffenheim outplaying us, while we’re stuck sounding like a broken tuba in the school band.

And yet, it all began so beautifully: six minutes in, Grimaldo whips in one of his trademark magical left-footed balls, and newcomer Quansah heads in his very first Bundesliga goal. BayArena buzzing, fans grinning, and you’re thinking: “Yes, the Ten Hag era takes off like a rocket!” Well, turns out it was more like one of those cheap New Year’s fireworks that fizzles with a puff of smoke before it ever leaves the ground.

Because Hoffenheim simply did what we were supposed to be doing: brave, tidy football with just the right amount of cold-blooded finishing. Asllani made it 1:1, Lemperle scored the winner—both on debut, of course. Bayer: the club where opponents love to write their fairy tales.

And what did our lads offer in return? Patience, set pieces, and long-range shots. In other words: the football equivalent of hoping that your Ikea screws will tighten themselves if you stare at them long enough. Tella had one big chance late on, but instead of rattling the net, he rattled only the side netting. Perfect metaphor, really.

Of course, this is just matchday one. Nobody gets relegated after an opening-day loss, even if it feels like that in the stands. But you can already sense that this new Bayer style isn’t quite clicking yet. Ten Hag talks about processes, patience, and hard work. All fair enough—but as fans, we can’t help but wonder: why can’t processes just start with three points for once?

The truth is, this squad is still finding itself. Players out, players in, Boniface practically packing for Milan… it’s like building a puzzle with pieces from three different boxes. Trouble is, the Bundesliga doesn’t wait around until you’ve found the missing corner piece.

Next stop: Bremen, followed by Frankfurt. Not exactly the easiest places to rebuild confidence. But hey—this is Bayer 04. We can turn any situation into either a tragedy or a football fairy tale. Most of the time we choose the messy middle ground: maximum drama, minimum comfort.

So my verdict? Chalk this one up as an early stumble, keep the beers cold, and practice patience. Maybe this was just the classic opening-day tripwire—and maybe the rocket launch is simply delayed by a few weeks.

Bundesliga 2025/26 – The Never Champions (niemalsmeister) Season Forecast

The new Bundesliga season kicks off with everything we both love and hate: huge expectations, new coaches, ridiculous transfer sums, and the eternal question of whether Bayern will end up on top again. Leverkusen, under Erik ten Hag, is attempting a fresh start, Dortmund hired Kovac – a coach who prefers to bite his opponents rather than his own players – and Stuttgart must prove last year’s success wasn’t just a one-off accident. Add in two newly promoted clubs bringing their dose of chaos, plus relegation candidates already making themselves comfortable on the slippery slope. So yes, we’re in for another year of drama, surprises, and those moments where we ask ourselves: why do we put ourselves through this every season?

Top of the table: Title and Champions League

1. Bayern Munich
Bayern never lose their hunger for the title, and even when injuries pile up, their squad depth is simply overwhelming. With new talent and old routine, they’ll be top again – unless they invent one of those trademark internal crises.

2. Bayer Leverkusen
New coach, half the squad rebuilt – it smells like chaos, yet ten Hag brings structure and a clear plan. Not everything will run smoothly, but there’s enough quality to chase Bayern for a long time and finish second.

3. Borussia Dortmund
Kovac brings stability, and he does so faster than expected. The attack is dangerous, but Dortmund being Dortmund, they’ll still drop points where you least expect it.

4. Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt keep pushing upwards and dream of the Champions League. Solid defense and clever transfers make them tough, but the final touch of consistency is missing for a title race.

Strong, but not elite: Europe League and beyond

5. RB Leipzig
Ole Werner adds some fresh ideas, though he’s not the most charismatic of coaches. Leipzig remain a talent factory with plenty of power, but nerves often fail when it matters most.

6. VfB Stuttgart
A true wildcard: on their good days they play champagne football, on their bad days they stumble over relegation candidates. Still, it’s enough for Europe – not without plenty of heart attacks though.

7. SC Freiburg
Streich has gone one year ago, but his system’s DNA lives on. Freiburg remain tough, smart, and annoying for every big club – just not quite strong enough for the top.

8. Mainz 05
A squad full of underestimated players that, together, achieve more than anyone expects. Safe mid-table, with the occasional European dream floating by.

The big midfield muddle

9. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Stabilized but not shining. The Foals remain unpredictable, yet the full potential still goes untapped.

10. Hamburger SV
The dinosaur is back, full of energy and early-season hype. Defensive cracks appear later, but they’ll secure survival comfortably.

11. 1. FC Köln
Promotion joy quickly turns into harsh reality. With fighting spirit, passionate fans, and a little luck, Cologne clinch a safe mid-table finish.

12. Werder Bremen
Solid, unspectacular football – perfect for switching channels during the conference broadcast. Far from the top, but safely away from relegation.

13. TSG Hoffenheim
Caught between ambition and reality: too strong for the bottom, too weak for the top. Once again stuck in the middle, and no one really knows the plan.

14. VfL Wolfsburg
A club with money, stadium, squad – but no soul. Survival secured only because others are worse off.

15. FC Augsburg
Sandro Wagner generates headlines if not always points. Plenty of grit keeps Augsburg in the league – another razor’s edge escape.
 

Bottom of the table: Relegation and drop

16. Union Berlin
After years of fairy tale football, the magic fades: too many changes, too little cohesion. Union face the relegation playoff and must fight for survival.

17. FC St. Pauli
Brave and likable, but not durable enough. The home games will be electric, yet away form kills them – relegation looms.

18. 1. FC Heidenheim
The second year after the miracle promotion is merciless. Passion and team spirit remain, but quality doesn’t – Heidenheim drop out.

Thunder, Mud, and Schick’s Head: Bayer 04 Wades into Round Two

Let’s be honest: when you draw a team like SG Sonnenhof Großaspach in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, you’re not exactly expecting Shakespeare. But what unfolded in the WIRmachenDRUCK Arena on a soaking Friday night was somewhere between Slapstick-Comedy, Survival Training, and the good old Pokal-Schule – where the football might be ugly, but the lessons stick. In the end, Bayer 04 passed the test. With wet socks, a couple of late goals, and that lovely smell of “okay, we didn’t embarrass ourselves.”

The evening began like any good Pokal tie in rural Baden-Württemberg: a scrappy underdog full of belief, a star-studded Bundesliga side trying not to fall asleep, and a stadium name that sounds more like a printer error than a football arena. Ten Hag’s new-look Werkself, sprinkled with fresh summer signings and a pinch of nervous energy, started like a team still looking for the on-switch.

Then came minute 18. Thunder. Lightning. Rain like the BayArena’s sprinklers had gone rogue. And while Großaspach’s grounds crew turned into besen-wielding Superhelden (heroes), both teams disappeared into the cabins, presumably to Google “Can footballs float?”

After a nearly 40-minute weather break and some quality drainage work with what looked like the janitor’s entire equipment closet, the game resumed – and with it, Bayer’s sense of purpose. Patrik Schick, calm as a Czech glacier, nodded in a perfect cross to make it 1–0. Relief. Not style, not dominance, but relief. The same Schick then casually cleared a Großaspach shot off the line a few minutes later, just to remind everyone that if he ever gets bored up front, he could always moonlight as a centre-back.

But despite the lead, this wasn’t a Werkself flexing its muscles. It was more a case of “slowly finding the toolbox.” Ten Hag’s debut in the dugout had moments of promise (looking at you, Maza and Poku), but also showed that even Bundesliga-Vizemeister struggle to control a soaked Pokal pitch against Regionalliga defenders on a mission.

Things turned when the home side decided to self-destruct. First, a second yellow for captain Celiktas (you could hear ten Hag whisper “danke schön” from the bench), then a flying tackle from Tasdelen that deserved both a red card and perhaps a personal apology to Axel Tape. And with two men up, Bayer finally did what Bayer does: punish, finish, move on.

Arthur slotted in the second after a lovely give-and-go with debutant Poku, Kofane made it three with the kind of cool finish that screams “I want more minutes, Coach,” and Grimaldo celebrated his 100th match by thumping home a penalty to seal the 4–0.

It looked routine on paper. But paper doesn’t show puddles, nor how often we misjudged Großaspach’s pressing traps. There’s still rust in this team, still a lot of moving parts – and let’s be fair, it’s August, we’ve all just come back from summer mode. But Pokal is about surviving. And survive we did, with a grin, a few sighs, and zero injuries (praise be).

So, dear Leverkusen faithful, let’s pack away the rain ponchos and prepare for real Bundesliga business next week against Hoffenheim. The road to Berlin has started – a bit splashy, a bit scrappy, but without a banana skin in sight. And when the heavens open again, we’ll know: Schick’s head is waterproof.

From Samba to Switch of Sides – Bayer 04 Kicks Off the New Season in Cup Mood

The summer break is over, the players’ and fans’ holidays are now just a distant memory, and in Leverkusen quite a lot has happened since. The preseason felt like a well-planned but not entirely bump-free road trip – with new faces, fresh ideas, and one clear goal: to build on past successes without slipping into routine. Today marks the first competitive game – DFB-Pokal away at Großaspach – and, as always, there’s that mix of anticipation, nervousness, and the nagging question: *“What if it goes wrong?”* But we are Bayer 04, and we’re not travelling to Aspach to admire the scenery. We’re going there to kick off the new season with a clear statement.

Coach Erik ten Hag made it clear early on that he’s not a fan of fairy-tale thinking. Asked whether he could lead Leverkusen straight to the top as if by magic, he replied dryly: *“Nobody is like Harry Potter.”* And while that honesty may not be as glamorous as a last-minute final goal, it brings a healthy dose of realism to a squad that has grown accustomed to high standards. The Dutchman knows that top-level football doesn’t happen at the snap of a finger – it takes work, patience, and the courage to try new things.

Preseason was far from dull. Alongside training sessions at home, one highlight stood out, and it had more to do with image than tactics: the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. There, the team found not only Brazilian sunshine but also the country’s unique football passion – which is practically a currency of its own. Between media events, appearances by the club’s management and the coach, and test matches against youth sides like Flamengo’s U20, the trip was about more than just scoring goals. It was about presenting the club internationally, attracting new fans, and bringing home a little samba spirit.

Of course, there were the usual little hiccups that come with any preseason. Injuries and illnesses shuffled the deck: Alejandro Grimaldo had to take a break due to illness midweek, and Victor Boniface, one of the key hopes in attack, still isn’t at full fitness. That opens the door for others. New signing Ernest Poku could find himself in the starting XI sooner than expected. Fresh through the door, straight into the first competitive match – it’s like moving into a new flat and being asked to do the dishes on your very first night: a tough test, but a great chance to make an impression.

There’s also movement in the transfer market. Amine Adli may well make his final appearance in a Bayer shirt tonight before a potential move to Bournemouth in England. It’s the kind of farewell that’s bittersweet: a loss on the pitch, but probably a gain in the bank account. These stories are part of football, and sometimes a departure creates opportunities for others to step up.

Tonight’s opponents, SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, are no longer complete unknowns. The self-styled “village club” dominated the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg last season, winning an impressive 31 of 34 matches, taking the WFV Cup, and earning promotion to the Regionalliga. That doesn’t sound like pushovers – more like a side with real ambition, especially at home. Großaspach have prepared meticulously for this evening: shuttle buses from nearby Backnang, a pre-match party with DJ Kaba, and the biggest stadium choreography in the club’s history. This is not just football – it’s a village festival with a ball.

Everyone knows the roles: Bayer 04 arrive as overwhelming favourites, Großaspach as brave underdogs. But cup games have their own laws – and that’s the charm. For the home team, this is the match of the year; for Leverkusen, it’s the first step in a season that aims high again. For one side, it’s a stage to prove themselves; for the other, it’s a must-win occasion that can be anything – from a comfortable warm-up to a painful reminder that nothing in football is guaranteed.

The mood in the Leverkusen camp seems positive despite the little uncertainties. Ten Hag has tried out plenty in recent weeks, tested formations, and given the players clear ideas to work with. Even if not everything is running perfectly, the coach’s signature is already visible: more structure in build-up play, consistent pressing, and the aim to actually *do* something with the ball, not just keep it. Fans can expect a mix of disciplined organisation and bold attacking play – if the execution clicks tonight.

The setting in Aspach is ready, the players are focused, and the stage could hardly be better. A night cup tie under the floodlights, packed stands – this is football romance at its finest. It’s also the moment where a new cycle begins: the first competitive match under a new coach, with fresh ideas and a squad not yet set in stone. Every sprint, every tackle, every successful combination tonight will not only decide progression in the cup but also send a signal for the weeks ahead.

There are plenty of reasons for optimism. The squad has quality, the mix of experienced players and young talent looks right, and even though not all new arrivals are fully integrated yet, that leaves room for surprises. A successful cup night can boost confidence, lift the mood, and pave the way for a strong Bundesliga start.

Of course, Großaspach will do everything to derail that plan. With the momentum of an outstanding season behind them, home-field advantage, and the chance to test themselves against a Champions League side, they’ll put in a fighting performance. But it’s in exactly these games that the difference between an ambitious fourth-tier side and an established Bundesliga team shows. Leverkusen must bring their quality to the pitch from the very first minute – not arrogantly, but decisively.

For the fans, tonight is both a must-attend and a celebration. Those making the trip to Aspach won’t just watch the game – they’ll soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the occasion, and perhaps remember that these away days often provide the stories you still tell years later. Whether it ends in a comfortable 4–0 or a nail-biting 2–1 will matter less than the team and fans taking that first step into what everyone hopes will be a successful season together.

No matter the scoreline, the season already has a certain momentum. With a coach who has a clear vision, a flexible squad, and a club leadership that’s looking outward on the international stage, the signs point to progress. Tonight is the first test – and at the same time the opening chapter of many stories yet to be written. Perhaps not with a magic wand, but with hard work, team spirit, and the willingness to get your hands dirty when necessary.

So here we are, rolling into Großaspach tonight. Some call it a routine task. Others call it a cup adventure. For us, it’s both – and maybe a bit more. Because in every beginning lies the chance to start something great. Tonight, it begins.