Six-Pack with Style – Heidenheim Gets the Full Bayer Treatment

If anyone thought Bayer 04 would coast into the Bundesliga weekend after that gritty Champions League win in Lisbon, well… they clearly haven’t been paying attention. This team doesn't just play football right now – it performs. And against Heidenheim, Leverkusen didn’t just win. They threw a six-goal party and forgot to send Heidenheim an invitation.

Within 30 minutes, it was 4:0. That’s not a match – that’s a warning. Patrik Schick opened the scoring faster than you can say "Werkself", and from there it was less a contest and more a showcase. Hofmann headed one in, Schick mopped up a loose ball like a pro, and Ernest Poku added some acrobatics for good measure. By halftime, poor Heidenheim probably just wanted to go home, but Bayer weren’t done yet.

Enter Ibrahim Maza. The teenager, who looks like he should still be doing his homework, played like a veteran and scored not once but twice – including a cheeky little poke for the 6:0. Not bad for your first Bundesliga brace. The fans? Rightfully losing their minds. The BayArena? Rocking like it's the 90s.

But before we book the Rathausbalkon for May: this was Heidenheim. Respectable side, sure – but not exactly known for spoiling parties. This kind of result is expected of a title contender. The way Leverkusen delivered it, though? That’s the scary part. Fluid, focused, ruthless. Like a Swiss watch, only more Spanish, Czech, Burkinabe, and Leverkusen.

Even the numbers got a bit silly. 926 completed passes – most by any team in the Bundesliga this season. Aleix Garcia played 165 of them himself, which is either an incredible athletic feat or a gentle mockery of Heidenheim’s pressing (or lack thereof). Tapsoba notched more assists in this one game than in his previous 166 Bundesliga appearances. Sometimes the stats just start laughing with you.

And let’s not forget debutant Alejo Sarco, the Argentine prospect who came on late and almost got in on the fun. A nice cherry on top of an already frothy football sundae.

So now, a break. The dreaded international pause, just when Bayer have found fifth gear. When they return, it's Wolfsburg away – and a run of games that could define the season.

But until then? We’ll just sit here, replaying goals, refreshing the table, and wondering: Is this actually happening? Is Bayer 04 really this good? Answer: Yes. And it’s a lot of fun.