October 3, 2009
Bayer 04 beat Nürnberg
4-0 win takes Bayer top
Renato Augusto is without doubt one of the best attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga. The fact that the Brazilian was not missed against FC Nürnberg is testament to Bayer 04's outstanding current form. Toni Kroos came in for Renato Augusto and produced a brilliant performance that contributed to a convincing 4-0 win for Bayer.
It took less than two minutes for the 19-year-old to get on the score sheet. Bayer were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after Stefan Kießling was brought down. Kroos stepped up and curled the ball into the top left corner of the net to put the Werkself 1-0 up. A dream start for Bayer 04 who were in their stride from the kick-off.
Bayer quickly took the game by the scruff of the neck and the visitors Nürnberg were almost reduced to the role of bystanders. On six minutes Simon Rolfes missed a chance to extend the lead from 4 yards out. Nürnberg keeper Raphael Schäfer pulled off a last-ditch save from Kießling five minutes later. A thumping drive from Gonzalo Castro was turned away by Schäfer as it was heading for the corner of the net.
Only a question of time
By now, the BayArena faithful were eagerly awaiting the second Werkself goal. And that came just before the half-hour mark: Jaouhar Mnari felled Kroos in the box and Rolfes coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the Nürnberg goal.
Every single Werkself player was clearly superior to their opposite number and Bayer almost strolled to their third goal. Rolfes burst into the box and Eren Derdiyok effortlessly stroked the captain's lay-off into the roof of the net to make it 3-0 on 34 minutes. That was the state of play at half-time and was a fair reflection of the difference in quality between the two sides.
René Adler untroubled
Despite shifting down a gear, Bayer remained on top in the second half with keeper René Adler having little to do on Germany's Day of Unity public holiday. Nürnberg lacked the means and quality to get back into the game.
Bayer's fourth strike started from a set piece on 68 minutes. Kroos crossed to the far post, Manuel Friedrich headed the ball back into the six-yard box and the unmarked Kießling nodded the ball home from five yards out.
"We are, we are top of the league"
Jupp Heynckes used the opportunity to give three of his squad players a run out. The industrious Theofanis Gekas had two chances to make it 5-0. That failed to upset the Werkself fans who were, by now, singing "We are, we are top of the league".
"We played really well. But we've got to keep our feet on the ground and take each game as it comes," declared Kroos after his outstanding performance. The whole of Leverkusen eagerly awaits the top of the table clash with Hamburg SV after the international break on 17 October.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Adler - Schwaab, M. Friedrich ( Sinkiewicz 76), Hyypiä, Castro, Vidal, Rolfes, Kroos, Barnetta ( Reinartz 73), Kießling, Derdiyok ( Gekas 71)
FC Nürnberg: Schäfer - Diekmeier, Spiranovic, Pinola, Judt ( Eigler 41), Mnari, Vidosic, Kluge, Broich, Frantz, Choupo-Moting
Goals:1:0 Kroos (2), 2:0 Rolfes (28 pen.), 3:0 Derdiyok (34), 4:0 Kießling (68)
Booked:Frantz
Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Attendance: 26,785 (BayArena, Leverkusen)
It took less than two minutes for the 19-year-old to get on the score sheet. Bayer were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after Stefan Kießling was brought down. Kroos stepped up and curled the ball into the top left corner of the net to put the Werkself 1-0 up. A dream start for Bayer 04 who were in their stride from the kick-off.
Bayer quickly took the game by the scruff of the neck and the visitors Nürnberg were almost reduced to the role of bystanders. On six minutes Simon Rolfes missed a chance to extend the lead from 4 yards out. Nürnberg keeper Raphael Schäfer pulled off a last-ditch save from Kießling five minutes later. A thumping drive from Gonzalo Castro was turned away by Schäfer as it was heading for the corner of the net.
Only a question of time
By now, the BayArena faithful were eagerly awaiting the second Werkself goal. And that came just before the half-hour mark: Jaouhar Mnari felled Kroos in the box and Rolfes coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the Nürnberg goal.
Every single Werkself player was clearly superior to their opposite number and Bayer almost strolled to their third goal. Rolfes burst into the box and Eren Derdiyok effortlessly stroked the captain's lay-off into the roof of the net to make it 3-0 on 34 minutes. That was the state of play at half-time and was a fair reflection of the difference in quality between the two sides.
René Adler untroubled
Despite shifting down a gear, Bayer remained on top in the second half with keeper René Adler having little to do on Germany's Day of Unity public holiday. Nürnberg lacked the means and quality to get back into the game.
Bayer's fourth strike started from a set piece on 68 minutes. Kroos crossed to the far post, Manuel Friedrich headed the ball back into the six-yard box and the unmarked Kießling nodded the ball home from five yards out.
"We are, we are top of the league"
Jupp Heynckes used the opportunity to give three of his squad players a run out. The industrious Theofanis Gekas had two chances to make it 5-0. That failed to upset the Werkself fans who were, by now, singing "We are, we are top of the league".
"We played really well. But we've got to keep our feet on the ground and take each game as it comes," declared Kroos after his outstanding performance. The whole of Leverkusen eagerly awaits the top of the table clash with Hamburg SV after the international break on 17 October.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Adler - Schwaab, M. Friedrich ( Sinkiewicz 76), Hyypiä, Castro, Vidal, Rolfes, Kroos, Barnetta ( Reinartz 73), Kießling, Derdiyok ( Gekas 71)
FC Nürnberg: Schäfer - Diekmeier, Spiranovic, Pinola, Judt ( Eigler 41), Mnari, Vidosic, Kluge, Broich, Frantz, Choupo-Moting
Goals:1:0 Kroos (2), 2:0 Rolfes (28 pen.), 3:0 Derdiyok (34), 4:0 Kießling (68)
Booked:Frantz
Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Attendance: 26,785 (BayArena, Leverkusen)