What the papers say: Werkself performance deserves respect

Job done. The 2-1 win for the Werkself at home to Hertha Berlin seals a place in the group stage of next season’s Champions League campaign with two games to go in the Bundesliga. Following the match the media have also praised the performance of Roger Schmidt’s team:The online edition of the Rheinische Post reads: “Into the Champions League with a seventh win: The ‘serial offenders’ of Bayer Leverkusen won the top game 2-1 against off-form rivals Hertha Berlin to secure a Champions League slot with two games to play. Julian Brandt (2’) and Lars Bender (16’) exploited two Hertha slip-ups to secure a seventh win in succession that means coach Roger Schmidt’s team have equalled the club record set in 2001 and 2015. Vedad Ibisevic (21’) pulled a goal back in a lively encounter. ‘It’s great to finish the season in third. It was a bit tight at the end but it’s good it ended as it did,’ said Brandt on Sky.” 

The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger (online) combines match analysis with an assessment of the season: “Bayer 04 have turned a season that looked like being one of the most wasted in the club’s history a few weeks ago into an almost perfect finish with qualification for the Champions League group stage with two games to go. Finishing third behind the top two from Munich and Dortmund could be seen as winning the ‘title of the also rans’. What appeared absolutely unthinkable a few weeks ago has become true in the most incredible way. Whether Bayer should be celebrated as the ‘third force’ behind the aforementioned top teams or for reaching the top table of European football again despite the financial inferiority to potential competitors like Wolfsburg and Schalke is not really important - this performance definitely demands one thing from all the teams involved: Respect.”

The Sonntags Express describes the feeling of relief after the crucial win against Hertha Berlin: “When the final whistle was blown at the BayArena Bayer’s midfield dynamo Kevin Kampl fell to his knees in joy and exhaustion. The Champions League anthem rang out across the stadium and the Werkself celebrated as one in front of the fans in the North Stand. The poorly ever-present Jonathan Tah sent his congratulations via Instagram from his bed in hospital. ... Congratulations, Bayer! What seemed like an illusion seven or eight weeks ago is now reality: On matchday 32 Leverkusen secured third place and qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.”

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SOCCER PREDICTIONS FOR SUNDAY 01-05-2016

 Belgium » Jupiler League 2015/2016 :                              

Club Brugge KV – Genk         1win

Bolivia » Liga de Futbol Prof 2015/2016:

Bolivar - The Strongest         (2:0) 1 Alternative Handicap                                                          

Nacional Potosi - Petrolero de Yacuiba      (0:2) 2 Alternative Handicap                                    

U. Sucre - Ciclon        1win

Croatia » 1. HNL 2015/2016 :                                  

Rijeka - RNK Split                   1win

Denmark » Superliga 2015/2016 :                                      

FC Copenhagen – Midtjylland          1win

Venezuela » Primera Division 2016 :

Zulia – Lara                 1x                              

Monagas – Petare     1x                              

Portuguesa - Llaneros                      1win              

Trujillanos - JBL Zulia             1win               

Urena – Carabobo                 2win                          

La Guaira - Estudiantes Caracas       1x

Israel » Ligat ha'Al 2015/2016:

Netanya – Yehuda                 2win                          

Beitar Jerusalem - Sakhnin   (0:2) 2 Alternative Handicap 

Bild am Sonntag sums up the key 
facts of the game in a few, clear words: “The seventh win on the bounce takes Leverkusen into the Champions League! 2-1 against competitors Hertha, third place sealed. Leverkusen can look forward to guaranteed income of 25 million euros! And on top of that, Bernd Leno is staying put. The goalkeeper (contract to 2018) did not make use of his release clause. The game was done and dusted early on after goals from Brandt (2’), Bender (16’) and Ibisevic. … After five matches without a win the Berliners can only finish fourth now. Nevertheless: They have made the Europa League thanks to Ingolstadt slipping up.”

The Sunday edition of the Berliner Tagesspiegel describes the situation before the game from a Hertha perspective: “The afternoon fixtures brought good and less good news for the Berliners. The defeat for Ingolstadt was certain before the kick-off at Leverkusen ensuring a return to the Europa League next season for the first time since 2009/10. Gladbach’s draw in Munich pushed them out of the fourth Champions League spot. The team coached by Pal Dardai were unable to put that right. … Hertha competed well, were in the game to the end but were unable to score an equaliser.”

Kicker (online) picked out Julian Brandt as the man of the match: “Bayer Leverkusen finally secured a Champions League spot in the top game on matchday 32. The Werkself were again able to rely on the live wire 19-year-old Brandt in the 2-1 win against Hertha Berlin. The Berliners did fight back at first but were unable to match the attacking power of the Werkself. The Old Lady will have to settle for participation in the Europa League but that remains a very good outcome over the season.”  

CREDIT TO:http://www.bayer04.de/b04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-6159