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.