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