Next defeat in another wild game

In the Europa League, Leverkusen must fear for advancement, in the Bundesliga Bayer is falling behind. After the defeat against AS Monaco, the Werkself also suffered a setback in the Bundesliga, losing 3-2 at home to Mainz.

Xabi Alonso made a clear statement before the match against Mainz. With his starting eleven, he made it clear where his priorities currently lie - namely on the second leg at AS Monaco in the Europa League. Alonso did without his best offensive players at the start. Moussa Diaby was absent due to a muscular injury, but Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, who were both only on the bench, were voluntary substitutes. But you actually have to beat Mainz with the starting eleven.

It's also unbelievable that Bayer has missed seven of the past eight penalty kicks. Three weeks earlier, Tapsoba had scored from the spot against VfL Bochum.

And about the referee, I'll just quote the Kicker: "Grade 6, caused confusion with confused and faulty performance; the penalty for Leverkusen was very questionable: recognized Bell's clear foul on Adli only after video study (45.+5); overlooked Kohr's elbow strike against Schick (76th); Kohr's foul on Frimpong was red-worthy (85th)." Need I add anything else?

Bitter home defeat against Monaco

After a wild game, especially in the second half, Bayer Leverkusen loses 3-2 to AS Monaco in the first leg of the Europa League knockout round playoffs. A curious own goal by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky puts Bayer behind early on, after which the Werkself repairs the slip-up strongly - and still walks off the pitch as losers against AS Monaco.

A bitter defeat overall, but the fair is not yet read. Annoying nonetheless, Hlozek was unlucky to score a goal a few minutes before the Monaco team hit the post. The motto is not to give up and to win a three-goal game at home against Mainz on Sunday.

There you go

Last week, I was still afraid that Hoffenheim would show commitment after the change of coach and cause difficulties for the Werkself. However, that was not the case today. Bayer took an early lead and controlled the game in the first half. And anyone who thought Hoffenheim would come out of the dressing room with commitment was proven wrong. In half two were not 100 seconds played, it was 2:0 for us. The rest to the 3:! Victory was actually only Schaulaufen, because the Werkself in the further course allowed only little.

Now we need to get back on track and secure a good starting position for progressing in Europe beforehand against Monaco - that's the motto for the coming carnival days with the home game against Monaco on Women's Carnival and Mainz on Carnival Sunday.

Disappointing performance in Augsburg

In the twelfth Bundesliga away match at FC Augsburg, Bayer 04 remained without points for the first time: The Werkself had to admit defeat with 0:1. Actually, it was a typical 0:0 game, but it's no use. If you concede a goal, then it's just zero points.

Especially in the second half, the team let itself be beaten. In the second half, Augsburg was always a tad faster in the duels and always a bit more poisonous. All in all, it was a clear step backwards for Bayer. And above all, it was again a standard that put Augsburg on the winning track. Okay, that can't happen, but it really shouldn't. In addition, it must also be noted that the Werkself has not netted for the second game in a row. And without goals, you just can't score when things don't go right at the back.

If Hoffenheim loses tomorrow in Bochum, they will probably fire their coach. So it will be hard enough for us in the next away game in Sinsheim. We urgently need points, and it's better to look down than up. It's a lost season so far anyway.

Do not bury your head in the sand

The match statistics are only decisive in the subject of goals and there Dortmund has 2 and we 0. Unfortunately, it is of little use if we are ahead in all other match statistics: shots on goal 21 (Dortmund: 7), possession 57% (43%), duel rate 57% (43%) or pass rate 85% (81%).

The Werkself must not bury their heads in the sand after this home defeat. The season is still long enough and there are still plenty of chances to close the gap in front. In contrast to the fall, the relegation battle is no longer an issue. And the last few weeks have shown that it is possible. However, it would be important that Patrik Schick is quickly fit again. Our game would probably be a little more effective with a real center forward.

Friday we go directly to Augsburg. We've never lost there. And above all, it's about making up for the home defeat at the start of the Bundesliga, since it was Augsburg's first ever win over the Werkself. The following Saturday, the Bavarians then play host to Hoffenheim. Hopefully they won't fire their coach by then, that would probably make our lives a little easier. And we still have something to make up against Hoffenheim.

Unspectacular victory against Bochum

From 15th to eighth place - in just five games. Bayer continues to climb up the Bundesliga table as its winning streak continued with a 2-0 victory over VfL Bochum. However, it is also a fact that the three-goal win over the relegation candidate was more of a work victory than a gala.

In contrast to the fall, however, it must also be noted that the team plays a game down more cleverly, but unfortunately not until the end. Against Gladbach, we led 3:0 and didn't finish the game confidently, and it could have been close again against Bochum.

At the end of the first half of the season, Leverkusen is now in eighth place and has its sights back on the international places. However, there is a gap at the top, as seventh place is five points away. This means that the disastrous start has been made up for quite well. However, it is important to stay on track and score more points on Sunday against Dortmund, which has also been unconvincing recently.

Gladbach suits us

The Werkself continued its upward trend with a 3-2 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. At the end of Matchday 16, our team built up a 3-0 lead, but had to shiver at the end due to a late double strike by Borussia. From the black-and-red perspective, it was not only the points on this icy Sunday evening that were pleasing, but also the comeback of Flo Wirtz in a competitive match.

The decisive factor for the victory was clearly the fact that the Werkself's wing players had much more speed, so that the Gladbachers were clearly overwhelmed on one or two occasions. Player of the match for me was Amin Adli. The Frenchman was on the move with a lot of dynamism, also asserting himself against his opponents in tight spaces and showing a few nice feints in the process. He won a running duel against the almost helpless Nico Elvedi and scored the 2:0 goal. The 22-year-old also prepared the 3:0 goal.

However, the two goals conceded at the back also show that you have to be wide awake until the end. That can also go wrong against a stronger opponent. The three points are important, and on Wednesday against Bochum the Werkself must find its way back to its old home strength.