Bayer Leverkusen

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No more days off. On Wednesday, Bayer 04 Leverkusen resumed training with almost completely healthy squad.

Dmitry Bulykin is the only player who is currently out. The Russian is sidelined with a torn ligament.

Adler trains again

The goalkeeper situation has improved. René Adler (groin) and Erik Domaschke (finger) were put through their paces by goalkeeping coach Rüdiger Vollborn.

Ahead of Sunday�s game against VfL Bochum, head coach Michael Skibbe is spoiled for choice with the prospect of even having to leave internationals out of his starting line-up.

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Bundesliga, Matchday 22 | PREVIEW
Bochum – Bayer Leverkusen

Bochum's win over Hannover last Friday has pulled them nine points clear of the relegation zone, and they will be looking to consolidate that with another good performance against high-flying Leverkusen.

A consistent run is what Marcel Koller will want after two wins, two, draws and two defeats in their last six games. A strong defensive performance will also be required against a potent Leverkusen attack that has in-form players like Steffen Kießling in it’s ranks.

Leverkusen closed to within six points of leaders Bayern Munich with their 1-0 win against Schalke last weekend, and they could move into second by beating Bochum this Sunday.

Michael Skibbe has turned his Werkself side into a real force and few eams relish playing them. They are unbeaten in their last seven matches and have not suffered a defeat since an uncharacteristic 5-2 loss at Werder Bremen back in December.

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Bochum 2 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen

66' [1 - 0] T. Zdebel
88' [2 - 0] C. Dabrowski

VfL Bochum 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a set-back as they went down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of VfL Bochum.

Second half goals from Thomas Zdebel and Christoph Dabrowski condemned Bayer Leverkusen to a rare defeat at the rewirpower Stadion.

The loss sees Hamburg reclaim third spot and Bochum move up one place to twelfth.

First Half

Bayer were the better side in the opening ten minutes with Bochum having to be alert to avert the danger posed by the Bayer attack. Clear goal scoring chances were however a rarity.

While Bayer were the better side, Bochum were compensating with effort and industry. Shinji Ono had a sight of goal after 26 minutes after Yahia had headed on a Maltritz cross. Adler wasn’t overly troubled in the Leverkusen goal.

Two minutes later and Inhof did well to deflect a Barnetta shot away for a corner at the last minute.

The first half, although very intense, brought no goals or any real clear scoring opportunities. Both sides deservedly went in at the half time interval all-square.

Second Half

Bochum began the second half brightly and on 58 minutes saw an effort from Benjamin Auer fly narrowly over the bar. Shortly after, Stefan Kießling forced Jan Lastuvka into a fine save.

The home side then made their positive start count with the opening goal after 66 minutes.

Dabrowski won the ball after a Pfertzel cross, and his headed pass found Zdebel, whose left-foot shot beat Rene Adler from 10 minutes. As the game progressed Bochum saw attack as the best form of defence and refused to sit back and defend.

This philosophy was then rewarded two minutes from time with Dabrowski scoring the second of the afternoon. Azaough dribbled into the penalty area round Dump and Haggui, before playing in Dabrowski at the right moment. The midfielder took a few steps before firing in from 11 meters into the right-hand corner.

Bochum: Lastuvka, Pfertzel, Maltritz, Yahia, Bönig, Imhof, Zdebel (Azaough 83), Dabrowski, Ono (Schröder 76), Auer, Epalle (Mieciel 76)

Bayer Leverkusen: Adler, Castro, M.Friedrich, Haggui, Sarpei (Dum 76), Vidal (Freier 70), Rolfes, Schneider, Barbarez (Gekas 70), Barnetta, Kießling

Goal.com - Bundesliga - Leverkusen Slump To Bochum Defeat

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Bayer Leverkusen have announced that they have been forced to move their final home match of 2008, and all their home fixtures in the second half of the 2008-09 season to Düsseldorf’s LTU Arena.

The club have been forced into the decision due to safety considerations over the re-building work going on to revamp the Bay-Arena. The have also announced that the cost of building the improved stadium have risen from an original €57 million to around €70 million.

The new stadium is expected to be ready for the start of the 2009-10 season. The capacity of the stadium is set to increase from 22,500 to 30,000.

The tiers of the new stadium will be covered by a circular, tent-like roof which will protrude the tiers on the long sides of the pitch and will therefore protect the spectators outside the ground from the rain.

The Arena will also eventually have a very special attraction. A huge Bayer cross with a diameter of 200 metres and made up of 2,000 transparent illuminating diodes is planned so that the world-famous company logo can be seen clearly from a great distance and from the air. This proposal however is still under discussion.

“At the end of this year we intend to start work on the erection of the new roof” explained Bayer managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser.

“During this phase we will not be able to guarantee the safety of our spectators, therefore we have decided to move our home games to the state capital- Düsseldorf, and return to the new Bay-Arena for an opening ceremony in July 2009.

“We will be letting our spectators know about the logistics of playing our home games in Düsseldorf. We are thinking of laying on special transport to the state capital.”

Goal.com - Germany - Leverkusen Forced Into Düsseldorf Move

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UEFA Cup, Round of 16, First Leg
Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 0 Hamburger SV

77' [1 - 0] T. Gekas

Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Hamburg

A second half goal from Theofanis Gekas saw Bayer Leverkusen edge out Hamburg in a rather uneventful game.

Bayer Leverkusen will take a one-goal lead into the second leg after a Theofanis Gekas goal decided a rather dull game at the Bay-Arena.

The second half was much improved on a first half where goal scoring chances were at a premium.

Michael Skibbe chose to make a change, playing striker Theofanis Gekas from the start with Arturo Vidal missing out. HSV made two changes from the weekend win over Frankfurt. Benjamin came in for Boateng and with Kompany moving up into midfield to replace Trochowski.

First Half

A cautious start to the game saw five minutes go by before the first chance of the game. Barnetta played the ball through to Barbarez, but the Bosnian was unable to reach the ball.

Both defences were looking solid and chances were few and far between. A long distance effort from Barbarez on 13 minutes was dealt with easily by Frank Rost.

It seemed as though neither side wanted to make a mistake and caution was the order of the day.

With half an hour gone the match hadn’t really changed from it’s set predictable pattern. Hamburg had not really had a single attacking moment with practically no action in either penalty area.

Second Half

Both sides came out unchanged at the start of the second half and the game got off to a brighter start.

Hamburg created the first chance of the half when Guerrero played a great ball to Jarolim, but the Czech fired his shot over the bar. Leverkusen responded almost immediately with Schneider crossing and Gekas heading over from inside the six yard box.

Van der Vaart then had a chance after good work from Jarolim as the second period stood in stark contrast to the first. On the hour mark, Frank Rost was called upon to make a great save from a Gekas effort following another inviting cross from Bernd Schneider.

On 77 minutes the breakthrough finally came with the increasingly threatening Gekas on hand to convert. Barnetta swung in a corner from the right and the Greek striker was in the right place to head home.

There were a few more long range efforts from Vidal and Kompany, while Gekas had another headed effort, but the game ended with the solitary goal all there was to show for either side’s efforts.

Bayer Leverkusen: Adler, Castro, Friedrich, Haggui, Sarpei, Rolfes, Schneider (Vidal 75), Barbarez (Freier 67), Barnetta, Kießling, Gekas (Callsen-Bracker 88)

Hamburg: Rost, Demel (Boateng 56), Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Benjamin, de Jong, Kompany, Jarolim, van der Vaart, Olic (Trochowski 76), Guerrero (Zidan 79)

Goal.com - UEFA Cup - Gekas Sees Leverkusen Edge HSV

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Bundesliga, Matchday 23 | PREVIEW
Bayer Leverkusen – Hannover

The final game of the weekend sees Bayer Leverkusen entertaining Hannover at the Bay-Arena. Michael Skibbe’s side were involved in midweek Uefa Cup action so will be a little more tired than Hannover, but they do enjoy home advantage.

They need the three points on Sunday as Hamburg currently lead them by just that number of points.

Hannover meanwhile continue to have a consistent season and are maintaining their challenge for a European qualification berth. They are currently eighth, four points behind Karlsruhe.

[Vargas_4]

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Hannover

Bayer Leverkusen moved to within a point of third place with a 2-0 win over Hannover at the Bay-Arena.

The home side took the lead after half an hour with last season's Bundesliga top-scorer Theofanis Gekas getting the goal. Tranquillo Barnetta and set off on a fine run. Together win Stefan Kiessling, he fed the Greek striker, who lobbed Enke in the Hannover goal.

Nine minutes later and the Werkself doubled their lead with the instigator of the first goal getting on the scoresheet. A short headed clearance fell to Arturo Vidal, who looked to play a one-two with Barnetta.

The ball actually fell to Gekas, who then laid the ball off to the Swiss midfielder. Valerien Ismael arrived too late to prevent Barnetta's shot from nestling in the right-hand corner.

Bayer Leverkusen: Adler, Castro, Friedrich, Haggui, Gresko, Vidal (Sinkiewicz 86), Rolfes, Schneider (Schwegler 73), Barnetta (Freier 79), Kiessling, Gekas

Hannover: Enke, Cherundolo, Ismael, Vinicius, Tarnat (Bikmaz 76), Balitsch, Pinto (Bruggink 67), Schulz, Huszsti (Krebs 67), Lauth, Hanke

***

Goal.com - Germany - Bundesliga Sunday Round-Up: Nurnberg Hold HSV, Bayer Win

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UEFA Cup, Round of 16, Second Leg
Hamburger SV 3 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are through, thanks to the away goal rule.

18' [0 - 1] S. Barbarez
53' [1 - 1] P. Trochowski
55' [1 - 2] T. Gekas
64' [2 - 2] J.P. Guerrero
80' [3 - 2] R.v.d. Vaart

Hamburg 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen

(3-3 on aggregate; Bayer win on away goals)

Bayer Leverkusen are through to the quarter final of the Uefa Cup on away goals despite a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hamburg at the HSH Nordbank Arena.

A 3-2 home win proved insufficient for HSV as two away goals from Bayer Leverkusen saw them through on the away goals rule.

Former Hamburg favourite Sergej Barbarez gave the visitors the lead on 18 minutes, only for substitute Piotr Trochowski to equalise early in the second half. Two minutes later Theofanis Gekas scored the all-important second away goal for the visitors.

Paulo Guerrero and Rafael van der Vaart scored two further goals for the home side, but were unable to grab the fourth they needed to go through.

Huub Stevens was faced with a number of selection problems ahead of this Uefa Cup clash with four enforced changes. In came Brecko, Atouba, Demel and Odjidja Ofoe.

Michael Skibbe made two changes to the team, which beat Hannover 2-0 on Sunday. Sarpei and Barbarez returned to the side following injury and suspension respectively. Gresko and Schneider made way.

First Half

Two minutes in and Bayer took advantage of some sloppy play in midfield from Demel and counter-attacked quickly. A one-two between Barbarez and Gekas saw the ball find its way to Kießling, whose shot flew over the bar.

Two minutes later and Hamburg were on the offensive. Guerrero fed Olic with a superb through ball, but Rene Adler was on his toes and rushed out to clear the danger from on the edge of the six-yard box.

In a very open game, the next chance fell to the visitors with Gekas being denied by Frank Rost. The opening ten minutes inside the HSH Nordbank Arena were certainly very entertaining.

The home side beat the Leverkusen back line again on nine minutes with Demel playing a forward pass. Paulo Guerrero found himself completely free in front of Adler, but the young Bayer keeper got a good hand to the Peruvian’s shot. Ivica Olic was unable to reach the rebound as the danger passed.

The chances kept coming and it was the hosts again that wasted a great chance. Atouba’s long throw found van der Vaart, who found himself clean in on goal. His shot however rolled just beyond the right-hand post.

It seemed just a matter of time before one side scored and that goal came on 18 minutes with Leverkusen grabbing an all-important away goal. Barnetta was brought down on the edge of the area by Olic. The Swiss international whipped the ball into the six-yard box from the set-piece and Barbarez was on hand to apply the finish with his left foot to leave Frank Rost helpless to stop it.

It took Hamburg at least ten minutes to recover from the goal, which had left them needing three goals to rescue the tie. Bayer Leverkusen looked to have the game fully in control.

On the half hour mark, Guerrero was very lucky that the referee didn’t spot a deliberate elbow on Vidal, otherwise a red card would surely have been produced.

Before the half time whistle, Hamburg forced Rene Adler into two goal-saving saves. Firstly a mis-hit cross from Olic looked goal bound, before the Bayer keeper palmed the effort over the bar. Then van der Vaart got on the end of an Atouba cross and diverted the ball towards the back of the net with a left-foot flick. Adler produced a superb reaction save to deny the HSV captain.

Second Half

Huub Stevens sent on Piotr Trochowski at the start of the second half and only had three minutes to wait before the first chance. Jarolim laid the ball back to Olic inside the penalty area, but again the Croatian was unable to make a decent connection and the ball bobbled past the post.

Substitute Trochowski then made an immediate impact with the equaliser for Hamburg on 53 minutes to bring renewed hope for the home side. Leverkusen were unable to properly clear a long throw from Atouba and Jarolim finally laid the ball off to the newcomer. His precise left-foot shot flew through a crowd of players and past Adler in the Bayer goal to give the home side something to chase.

However, the delight for the home fans lasted just two minutes when Theofanis Gekas grabbed the second of the night for Leverkusen to put them firmly in control of the tie.

A long ball forward from Sarpei saw Gekas through on goal, albeit from a marginally offside position. The Greek striker kept his cool to slot past Frank Rost into the bottom far right-hand corner.

HSV refused to lie down and give up hope and were rewarded on 64 minutes with a goal from Paulo Guerrero. Demel powered down the right hand side before crossing to the middle. Guerrero flicked the ball up and fired a brilliant shot past Rene Adler to make it 2-2 on the night and give the Hanseaten a glimmer of hope.

Huub Stevens’ side continued to press looking for the two goals they needed. A mis-hit shot from Brecko brought Guerrero into play but his shot went just over the bar.

Then on 72 minutes van der Vaart controlled the ball well inside the penalty area, before rounding Rene Adler. Forced wide, the HSV captain could only direct his shot into the side netting.

With ten minutes left on the clock, van der Vaart did get on the score sheet. Guerrero beat Rolfes on the edge of the penalty area and played a square ball to the Dutchman to poke home from close-range and set up a frantic last ten minutes with the home side needing one more goal to go through.

With four minutes left on the clock, David Jarolim tried to buy a penalty, but referee Mallenco wasn’t fooled and the Bayer defenders were far from impressed with the Czech’s antics.

Four minutes of time added on proved insufficient for Hamburg to get the one goal they required and Leverkusen progressed to the quarter-final courtesy of their two away goals.

Hamburg: Rost, Brecko, Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Atouba (Boateng 62), Demel, Odjidja-Ofoe (Trochowski 46), Jarolim, van der Vaart, Guerrero, Olic (Sam 76)

Bayer Leverkusen: Adler, Castro, Friedrich, Haggui, Sarpei, Vidal (Bulykin 88), Rolfes, Barbarez (Schwegler 72), Barnetta, Kießling, Gekas (Callsen-Bracker 81)

Goal.com - UEFA Cup - Leverkusen Through On Away Goals After Hamburg Thriller

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer will face Zenit in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.

The first match will be played at home and the return leg in Russia.

In case they qualify to the semi finals, we'll play the winner of Bayern vs Getafe

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Bayer Leverkusen trainer Michael Skibbe has declared himself generally pleased with the Uefa Cup quarter final draw, which has drawn his side against Russian side Zenit. St Petersburg.

Hamburg’s conquerors have been drawn to play the first leg at the Bay-Arena before their trip to Russia for the second leg.

“It is a very attractive draw even though we would have preferred to play the first leg away from home” Skibbe admitted after the draw was made.

“I’m glad that we got a foreign opponent, and of course we’ll be intensively scouting the Russians.”

Rudi Voller, director of football at the club said: “Our chances of progression stand at 50:50. It is a difficult but attractive task.”

Midfielder Simon Rolfes however, explained that he had a prior feeling that the Werkself would get the Russians in the draw.

“I had a feeling that we would get St. Petersburg. I see a good chance for us to reach the semi-final even though they have a good side.

“But a team that has knocked out Hamburg, should be able to get through against the Russian champions.”

Goal.com - UEFA Cup - Leverkusen Content With Zenit

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Bundesliga, Matchday 24 | PREVIEW
Bayer Leverkusen – Nürnberg

After dumping Bundesliga rivals Hamburg out of the Uefa Cup on Wednesday, Bayer Leverkusen will set out to replace them in third place in the Bundesliga and claim pole position in the race for a Champions League place.

Nürnberg still need to kick on and start producing results if they are to pull clear of the relegation zone in which they find themselves. A hard-fought draw with Hamburg saw them show that they could perform against the bigger sides but in their predicament, they need three points.

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Bayer Leverkusen 4 - 1 Nurnberg

6' [1 - 0] K. Haggui
12' [1 - 1] Z. Misimovic
56' [2 - 1] B. Glauber (o.g.)
59' [3 - 1] T. Gekas
82' [4 - 1] S. Kiessling

Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 Nürnberg

A sold-out Bay-Arena witnessed Bayer Leverkusen cruise to a 4-1 win which has seen them go to third in the Bundesliga six points behind leaders Bayern and one point behind second placed Hamburg.

The home side took just six minutes to get their noses in front with Karim Haggui firing in. Simon Rolfes forced a save out of Klewer following a Bernd Schneider corner, and the Tunisian was on hand to stab home the rebound from close range.

That lead lasted only six minutes as Misimovic equalised. Jan Koller headed down a cross to the midfielder, who struck the ball into the bottom corner of the goal helped in part by a deflection off of Friedrich.

After a first twenty minutes full of chances, the rest of the half settled down somewhat.

Twelve minutes into the second half though and Leverkusen were back in front. Barnetta sent Gresko down the left, his cross into the centre saw Glauber rather unluckily forced the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Theofanis Gekas getting to the ball.

Leverkusen then went for the jugular with a third goal two minutes later. This time Kießling played in Barnetta down the right, before the Swiss midfielder played in a great diagonal ball to Gekas. The Greek striker took the ball, turned and fired well past Klewer.

The icing was put on the cake for Michael Skibbe’s side on 82 minutes with Stefan Kießling getting in on the scoring act. Bayer reacted quickly to a poor clearance from Klewer. Hans Sarpei crossed the ball to the far post, where Kießling beat Reinhardt to ball before firing a right-foot shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Bayer Leverkusen: Adler, Castro, Friedrich, Haggui, Gresko, Barnetta, Rolfes, Schneider (Vidal 46), Kießling, Barbarez (Freier 85), Gekas (Sarpei 77)

Nürnberg: Klewer, Reinhardt, Glauber, Wolf, Kristiansen, Kluge, Mnari, Misimovic, Vittek (Charisteas 65), Saenko, Koller