Werkself's DFB Pokal efforts fall short

Werkself’s DFB Pokal run came to end as they lost 1-0 to Bremen via a second half deflected shot from Mesut Özil. The result brings Bayer 04's difficult season to an end with the club once again missing out on European competition.

With a large band of traveling supporters from the Rhineland Werkself had good support in the capital. In the early stages of the match they had a lot to cheer about as Bruno Labbadia's side had the momentum. However play in the final third was insufficient and despite the advantage with ball possession, they were unable to make something of it. Bremen slowly started to get its footing with Diego being the cause of many of Werkself’s problem. The deadlock was broken just before the hour when Mesut Özil's shot struck Manuel Friedrich and squeezed past René Adler for the 1-0 lead. Looking for the right touch Bruno Labbadia brought in Toni Kroos for Arturo Vidal and Angelos Charisteas late but they were unable to break through as the match ending in a 1-0 loss.

Energie Cottbus defeats Leverkusen 3-0

Werkself ended the Bundesliga season falling 3-0 to Cottbus. Bojan Prašnikar's Lausitz side managed to score all three goals after the break for the win, which pushed them out of automatic relegation and now face Nuremberg in the playoff battle starting on Thursday.

After a scoreless opening half which ended with Arturo Vidal being sent off with his second yellow-card, Energie poured forward looking for the go ahead goal. Five minutes after the break Ervin Skela sent a long ball down the left channel that Emil Jula out muscled Karim Haggui before scoring. Four minutes past the hour Energie doubled its margin as Skela chased down a ball on the right flank beating Haggui and sent the ball to Stiven Rivić who scored from the edge of the six-yard box. The embarrassing defending countinued as five minutes later another long ball to Skela resulted in him maneuvering around Michal Kadlec with Karim Haggui in pursuit. As he stopped Haggui ran over René Adler just as Skela crossed the ball to Emil Jula for a close range finish.

Bayer Leverkusen trample Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-0

If Bruno Labbadia was looking for a reaction from Tuesday's loss to Bayern München he got it as Werkself, in their final match in Düsseldorf, pounded Gladbach into submission 5-0. However far beyond the victory the match was highlighted by the glorious return of veteran Bernd Schneider.

The derby against the Gladbachern started with the visitors looking strong but after a failed attempt, a packed LTU Arena was on its feet as Stefan Kießling gave Bayer 04 the lead just past the half-hour. Accepting a ball on the right with a great deal of space, he stormed into the area and without a challenge from Roel Brouwers we sent the ball in off the far post. Knowing full-well that Borussia's Tomáš Galásek and Dante create formidable defending interior, Werkself continued to try and create space with flanking assaults and just before the break it was 2-0 as Tony Kross absorbed collapsing Gladbach defenders before supplying Gonzalo Castro the ball on the wide open right flank. Moving into the area he sent a low cross that Patrick Helmes edged into the near post. As Gladbach's efforts to get back to match started to slow, Werkself went into overdrive as Gonzalo Castro made it 3-0 eight minutes past the hour when he sent the ball in from a acute angle on the right. Entering for Toni Kross six minutes before Bernd Schneider created the fourth goal as his chip from the right was headed in by Michal Kadlec a few metres out. For the fifth goal, once again coming from the right Gonzalo Castro's cross was sent in by Dante in a awkward own goal as he was under no pressure.

With the victory, Werkself has one remaining week in the Bundesliga season before the all-important DFB Pokal final and a chance for the Europa League

Bayern tear apart Werkself 3-0

Ideas of a late season rally for Werkself ended quickly as they lost to Bayern München 3-0 at Allianz-Arena. The only changes in Bruno Labbadia's lineup was the inclusion of Lukas Sinkiewicz and Manuel Friedrich for Karim Haggui and Manuel Friedrich in the back-line.

After an opening half in which Bayer 04 were robbed for a few obvious penalty calls, Bayern took the lead two minutes after the restart as Luca Toni charged into the box, received Lukas Podolski's pass and sent the ball in from close range. Next years captain at Köln Podolski fed Franck Ribéry from in-close to make it 2-0 just before the hour. Bastian Schweinsteiger completely split the Bayer 04 defenders and raced down the left channel from his own end before passing to Lukas Podolski who scored from ten metres.

Leverkusen play Bielefeld to 2-2 draw

The Düsseldorf jinx continued as Werkself needed a late goal by Patrick Helmes to earn a draw against Arminia Bielefeld. While the focus of earning a spot in European football resides with a win in the Pokal, the result was a disappointment.

After a delayed start Bruno Labbadia's side took the lead twenty-one minutes in as Renato Augusto's cross into the box was heading in by Stefan Kießling giving Werkself the 1-0 lead. The lead was short-lived as the schwarz-weiß-blauen pulled level when Manuel Friedrich inadvertently turned Vlad Munteanu's free-kick into Bayer 04's net. Six minutes before the half Robert Tesche gave Bielefeld the lead as he headed-in a Vlad Munteanu's free-kick in what looked to be a offside position. After an uneven second half of half-hearted attempts Patrick Helmes squared the match after he got on the end of a loose ball and struck from fourteen metres. Attempts there after fell short as Werkself troublesome days in the Rückrunde continued.

Die Königsblauen no match for Werkself

May started off perfectly for Werkself as they defeated Schalke 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen. It was only the third win for Bruno Labbadia's side since the start of the Rückrunde but bodes well for the DFB Pokal at months end against Bremen.

After last weeks loss against KSC Bruno Labbadia adjusted his starting eleven to include Toni Kroos, Gonzalo Castro and Michal Kadlec with Tranquillo Barnetta relegated to the bench. Asserting their intent from the opening whistle and took the lead at the ninth minute as Arturo Vidal long through-ball Gonzalo Castro on the right flank, was crossed from the bye-line into the box for Patrick Helmes to turn-in. In complete control of the match Werkself ran roughshod over the home side and four minutes prior to the half-hour as Renato Augusto out maneuvered Christian Pander and drove the ball in from an acute angle on the right to make it 2-0. For the balance of the match, Schalke was no match for Werkself and what chances did make it through were turned away by René Adler. With three minutes left Ivan Rakitić linked up with Kevin Kurányi and the striker brought one back for Schalke. However that was a close as it got as Werkself won 2-1 and readies for the DFB Pokal on 30 May.

Karlsruhe defeats Leverkusen 1-0

Fighting relegation down to the last second Karlsruhe pulled off a stunning upset as they defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-0 in Düsseldorf. The result pulls KSC within only a few points of safety while continuing Werkself's complete collapse since the start of the Rückrunde which as has them only win once.

Clearly fatigued from the mid-week extra-time DFB Pokal win, Bayer 04 controlled the run of play but were unable to paint the final stroke. With only Michal Kadlec out of the lineup it was simply the indefensible spirit that shone through in Düsseldorf as Edmund Becker fought for a full ninety-minutes. While facing relegation KSC wouldn't play "safe" and proceeded to play highly attacking football from the start. After early opportunities from Joshua Kennedy came up empty-handed it was Leverkusen who had the majority of chances. Searching for solutions Bruno Labbadia substituted Gonzalo Castro and Angelos Charisteas for Arturo Vidal and Patrick Helmes but that failed to do the trick and with eighteen minutes left, the walls caved in as René Adler allowed Sebastian Langkamp's sliding clearance from 40 metres to get behind him and into the net. Following the shock goal Bayer 04 came close for the leveler but it couldn't be found and they lost 1-0.

Werkself heads to DFB Pokal final

With the only route to the Europa League through a victory in the DFB Pokal, Werkself overcame the never-say-die Bundesliga 2 side Mainz 4-2 in extra-time. The victory now books a date at the Olmypiastadion in the capital on 30 May against the winner of Wednesday's clash between Bremen and HSV.

After a tightly played match Greek international Angelos Charisteas broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining as he pounced on a rebound and sent it in from a few metres out. With Werkself supporters anxious for Berlin, the celebration was delayed as two minutes before the whistle Montenegro international Milorad Peković's cross was headed-in by Aristide Bancé. Mainz was tiring quickly and only two minutes into extra-time Arturo Vidal gave Bayer 04 the goal they needed as he sent in a rebound from close range. Werkself added to the lead as Simon Rolfes headed-in Angelos Charisteas' corner to back of the net thirteen minutes into extra-time.
Michal Kadlec made it 4-1 as he completely split the opposition defenders, rounded the 'keeper to the right before scoring as supporters sung out "Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin!"

Werkself lose 2-1 to Wolfsburg

With Werkself clinging to hopes of a getting back into the race for the Europa League they bitterly lost 2-1 to Wolfsburg in a match that they clearly outplayed the Bundesliga leaders for large stretches and were victimized by a series of highly dubious calls.

Playing in Volkswagen Arena is difficult enough against a team unbeaten in the Rückrunde but as many will attest, Wolfsburg is beneficiary of many questionable calls at home. Midway of the half Werkself learned that as Grafite fell once he rounded Manuel Friedrich who was erroneously adjudged a penalty by referee Dr. Jochen Drees. Grafite scored to give Wolfsburg the lead but to the credit of Bruno Labbadia's side, they never backed-down. After quarantining the Wolfsburg attack the match was level six minutes before the hour Toni Kroos scored from the edge of the area via Stefan Kießling's supply. Bayer 04 swirled with confidence as the feeling of an upset in the offing was very apparent. However after coming close on a number of occasions, Bosnian play-maker Zvjezdan Misimović played in Grafite who put the ball past René Adler to bring the match to a 2-1 score. Still more controversy remained as Jan Šimůnek should have been adjudged a penalty for a handball in the last moments of a match but it was ignored as Wolfsburg had its three points.

Werkself level with Bremen

After breaking the difficult slide against Köln, Werkself were hopeful to get their European efforts back in line against Bremen. However they were held 1-1 in Düsseldorf and are now ninth in the table and six points behind surging Stuttgart.

The only change from last weeks starting eleven was Toni Kroos in for Arturo Vidal and his inclusion paid off quickly. After a the early play was dominated by Bremen, Bayer 04 took the lead at the eleventh minute as a poor clearance came to Kroos, who passed the ball back to Swiss international Tranquillo Barnetta, who struck the ball in off the crossbar from eighteen metres. Following the goal the midfield had problems moving the ball, a constant complaint of the temporary surface in Düsseldorf and without much of an attack Bremen were a menacing force. After Hugo Almeida struck the post a few minutes after the half-hour mark, Claudio Pizzaro headed-in Aaron Hunt's cross as he was left completely unmarked dead centre just above the six-yard box. After the match the Peruvian striker explained he only saw the ball at the last second but instinctly moved on the opportunity. Werkself came close to restoring its lead as Stefan Kießling made his way around Bremen 'keeper Tim Weise but his shot from a tight angle hit the post.

In the second half Bremen's Clemens Fritz struck the post with twelve minutes remaining but for the major of the later stages it looked like Werkself was going to take away the three points. Toni Kroos, Patrick Helmes and Renato Augusto each were held by the Bremen 'keeper and the match ended as a 1-1 draw.

Es war ein wichtiges Ergebnis für uns

After a disappointing start to the Rückrunde, Werkself rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Köln in the Rheinische Derby. The result sets the course for the remaining eight matches as Bayer 04 is only four points out of a spot for European competition.

With nearly 50,000 in attendance the stage was set for a bitter match. Bruno Labbadia, wary of the oppositions counter-attack habit utilized a more compact approach in a 4-1-3-2 with Manuel Friedrich and Lukas Sinkiewicz keeping an eye on their key attacker Milivoje Novakovič. Realistic chances were at minimum, the first coming quarter of the hour via Henrique strike from twenty-five metres but it was handled well by Köln 'keeper Faryd Mondragón. While there were a few prospective efforts, much of the action through the break was within the midfield.

Three minutes past the hour, Bruno Labbadia made a double substitution that changed the match. Calling on Toni Kroos and Renato Augusto for Tranquillo Barnetta and Arturo Vidal, Köln was stopped dead in their tracks. Three minutes later Simon Rolfes passed the ball off to Stefan Kießling, who sent the ball behind Mondragón for the 1-0 lead from seven metres. Ten minutes later Werkself had its insurance goal as Patrick Helmes connected from the spot after Stefan Kießling was brought down by Pedro Geromel in the area. Following the goal, Köln was unable to find a way back into the match and it end with an important 2-0 victory for Werkself.

Derby

Through the eight opening matches of the Rückrunde, Werkself has seen its hopes for the championship fall aside with only one win. Now with nine matches remaining Bruno Labbadia's club must find solidarity if they are to reverse their fortunes.

The Bayer coach recognizes Sunday's derby against Köln as the perfect entry-point for that rebound:

"There have been games where we’ve had better results and shown more confidence but now it’s time to get back to winning ways. We’ve got a derby away from home. That’s a great challenge and it will be be a good test. I think it will be an interesting encounter."

Aware that Köln supporters will be out in full force, he added:

“Köln have a great stadium and we’re expecting a tremendous atmosphere, a real lion’s den. Derby games are always special.”

Werkself have a number of injury concerns, starting with Gonzalo Castro who is definitely out with question marks on Manuel Friedrich, Arturo Vidal, Pirmin Schwegler and René Adler.

Glück kurz vor Schluss

While the notion that Werkself was lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw to Frankfurt, in-truth that could easily summarize Saturday afternoons match in Düsseldorf. The draw continues the steep slide for Bayer 04 since the start of the Rückrunde that has seen only one victory and eight matches causing a drop to seventh place.

Tomasz Zdebel (pictured) and Pirmin Schwegler returned to the starting eleven and with a strong look towards defending the match started with a modestly cautious pace. Eintracht took the lead on their first attacking threat as Martin Fenin dealt the ball to Alexander Meier who finished from six metres. Confidence was definitely shaken at it took quite sometime before Werkself fluid attack resembled its former self. Five minutes before the break Bruno Labbadia's side found the goal to square the match as Tranquillo Barnetta’s corner was re-directed in by Michal Kadlec. A further effort by Stefan Kießling before the break, while unsuccessful, made you think fortune had shifted in Werkself's direction. However after the break it was Adler who looked for like the side searching for a European spot As the match was nearing conclusion a forty meter effort by Caio and another attempt Habib Bellaid forced the most out of René Adler to save the 1-1 draw.

Photo Credit:Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH

unspektakulären

Werkself painful collapse since the start of the Rückrunde continued with a 1-0 loss to the Berliners. With three losses in the previous four matches Bayer 04 have fallen well off pace and are now seventh in the table.

The league leaders played strong organization and it was obvious that both sides were going to keep their attacking pulses reigned in, lest be punished by the opposition. Through the opening stages of the half each movement of the ball was countered perfectly by the other sides and neither 'keeper was faced with compelling attacks. Near the twenty minute region Bayer 04 had a handball claim denied and later Stefan Kießling was close with header from a corner but other than that the match went to the break without note. The visit to the capital was spoiled as former Werkself attacker Andrey Voronin scored the matches lone goal as he received Maximilian Nicu through ball and while René Adler saved the first attempt, the rebound came to the striker who pounded the ball into the netting. Up by one, the Berliners were satisfied with the goal and were well behind the ball for the rest of the match and bolted down any Bayer 04 advance. Entrances of Sascha Dum and Toni Kroos with twelve minutes remaining came too late as while they showed good intent Werkself fell 1-0 in a match that they will regret for the lack of aggression. 

the Berliners!

With only a single point in the last three weeks Werkself visits Berlin on the prowl for points against first-place Hertha BSC. The Rückrunde hasn't been kind to Bruno Labbadia with only one win and a set-back on Saturday could severely jeopardize any chance for Champions League. Winners of the last three encounters in Berlin, Bruno Labbadia optimistically notes Bayer 04's goals are firm:

“We all want to qualify for Europe. We’re not just going to concentrate on the Cup but we’re also looking to make up the five points to reel in the teams above us. It’s in our hands and we are confident our ability. It’s important to keep a cool head and not to panic in such situations, while at the same time discussing things openly rather than talk things up.”

Toni Kroos and Pirmin Schwegler will take the place of Manuel Friedrich and Arturo Vidal who are both out with injuries along with Tomas Zdebe and Bernd Schneider.

no victory in Düsseldorf

Despite having significantly greater scoring chances, Werkself was unable to overcome VfL Bochum and played to a 1-1 draw in Düsseldorf. The squandered points leave Bayer 04 seventh in the Bundesliga table and ripe with frustration after the great victory over Bayern in the Pokal. After the visitors lost striker Diego Klimowicz to a injury fourteen minutes after the start, Michal Kadlec's cross into the box was headed on by Stefan Kießling but Bochum 'keeper Daniel Fernandes made a quality save. Searching to break the deadlock, Marcel Koller starting eleven shocked the big crowd in Düsseldorf grabbing the lead past the half hour mark as Christian Fuchs, who came over from SV Mattersburg last summer, sent a free-kick into the box that Christoph Dabrowski headed in. Six minutes later Stefan Kießling narrowly missed heading Tranquillo Barnetta cross in and then with three minutes remaining Lukas Sinkiewicz's effort from just outside the six yard box is saved again by Bochum 'keeper. A late substitution prior to the break was necessary as Toni Kroos came in for Arturo Vidal. After the break, Marcel Koller's side could smell victory looming and Joël Epalle and Eintracht Frankfurt product Mimoun Azaouagh forced the most out of René Adler around the hour mark. The Bochumer were unlucky six minutes past the hour as Mergim Mavraj was called for a handball in the area and with the spot pointed to, Patrick Helmes crisply sent the ball in. Playing a man down with Mavraj's explusion Werkself swarmed for the winner but Bochum 'keeper Fernandes continued to deny the hosts and the match ended as a 1-1 draw.

Photo Source: Kicker (© picture-alliance)

Werkself build on DFB Pokal win

After losses to Hamburg and Hannover 96 in Bundesliga play, Werkself responded with a tremendous victory over Bayern München in the DFB Pokal. Recent losses have seen Bayer 04 drop from the top six and well off pace of the first place Berliners. As VfL Bochum travels to Düsseldorf, Bruno Labbadia is anxious to continue the winning form of the Pokal and get back into the championship race.

Since the start of the Rückrunde, Bochum have completely turned around their early season form with ten points including victories over KSC, Schalke and Energie Cottbus. Now out of the relegation zone, their schedule takes on a tough run and their coach Marcel Koller will be looking to squeeze out points where possible.

Bayer 04 coach Bruno Labbadia was dutifully impressed with Bochum:

“Bochum’s results before the winter break were disappointing but VfL are now one of the strongest sides in the league. They will fight for the whole 90 minutes and play decent football. The main thing for us is to carry on where we left off. The key factor will be how we can carry on working together."

Werkself are likely missing Tomasz Zdebel and Manuel Friedrich but Henrique and Gonzalo Castro are available following suspension and will immediately enter the starting eleven. Beyond that there are no changes to Simon Rolfes and company as Tranquillo Barnetta, Stefan Kießling and Patrick Helmes will drive forward in the assault.


Photo Credit: Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH

Werkself ends Bavarians run in DFB Pokal

Werkself ending defending DFB Pokal champions Bayern München hopes of repeating with a 4-2 victory in Düsseldorf. After a furious first half that somehow concluded without a score Tranquillo Barnetta gave Werkself the 1-0 lead six minutes before the hour as he accepted Lukas Sinkiewicz long cross and powerfully drove the ball in from twenty metres. In rapid-fire manner Arturo Vidal doubled the margin seven minutes later when he nodded in Barnetta's corner. With twenty minutes remaining Bastian Schweinsteiger's poor pass was picked up by Michal Kadlec and then sent to German international Patrick Helmes who sent the ball in. The Bavarians came back scoring twice in the next four minutes, first with Massimo Oddo's being headed in by Lúcio and the Franck Ribéry cross into the six yard box for Miroslav Klose to head in. Now 3-2 Jürgen Klinsmann's side poured forward looking for the leveler. However two minutes into added time Stefan Kießling was provided the ball from Angelos Charisteas, who pounced on a defending error by Martin Demichelis and added the fourth and final goal as Bayer 04 won 4-2.

Werkself drop second straight

Werkself dropped their second straight match losing 1-0 to Hannover 96. With only one victory in the Rückrunde, Bayer 04 has fallen out of the top six and cannot afford to drop further points next week against Bayern München.

The general consensus was that overall play was disappointing as Coach Bruno Labbadia said it was a "deserved win for Hannover" while René Adler noted simply, "we deserved to lose."

Hannover use of two holding midfielders with a single striker completely nullified the work of Tranquillo Barnetta, Renato Augusto, Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kießling exluding Kießling's effort that was stifled by Hannover 'keeper Robert Enke at the half-hour mark. Shortly thereafter Arnold Bruggink scored the decider from close range as he put in Jan Schlaudraff's pass. Down by a goal, Werkself couldn't get started as Hannover stayed focused on defending. With twelve minutes remaining Toni Kroos entered the match and although Arturo Vidal hit the woodwork a minute later, they could not break through the Hannover goal and lost 1-0.

tricky match against 96 ahead

Werkself's visit of Hannover 96 is one of the trickier encounters as their opposition is far better than their lower table performance shows. Although many tabbed 96 to threaten the top six, the have been slaughtered with injuries and now only three points out of the relegation zone. Combined with their inability to win on the road, Bruno Labbadia is expecting a bitter fight for points tomorrow afternoon.

The Werkself coach said of 96:

“Hannover will play a disciplined game up front. They won’t throw everything into attack but instead wait for mistakes and it’s up to us to keep these to a minimum. We’ve got 13 matches left and there are no easy games amongst them. It’s all about qualifying for Europe and we can’t afford to drop any points.”

Lukas Sinkiewicz and Hans Sarpei will step in for Gonzalo Castro and Henrique are both suspended for the match. Tomasz Zdebel will miss out but Toni Kroos is expected to see his first action for Werkself. Key area to watch in this match is how Tranquillo Barnetta tries to spring Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kießling free against what is potentially a very disciplined group of defenders.