Bayer Leverkusen starts strongly into 2025 - victory against Oberhausen!

On January 5, 2025, several test games of the Bundesliga clubs took place, with Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart focused on in particular. Bayer Leverkusen successfully started the new year with a 2-0 win against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. Florian Wirtz scored the goals in the 47th minute by a penalty and Patrik Schick in the 57th minute through a header after a corner. Despite the victory, Leverkusen could not use numerous other opportunities. Victor Boniface continued to pause due to a thigh injury, and coach Xabi Alonso rely on a rotation by giving his service providers a half time to increase their fitness.

Union Berlin, on the other hand, had a difficult start under new trainer Steffen Baumgart. In his first game, the team had to accept a 1-2 defeat against Holstein Kiel. Armin Gigovic (34th minute) and Fiete Arp (114th minute) scored for Kiel, while Yorbe met the only goal for Union Berlin in added time. The team revealed weaknesses in the attack, but showed an improved performance after changing in the second half.

Stuttgart and other test games

VfB Stuttgart played against Ajax Amsterdam and ended with a 2-2 draw. Stuttgart took the lead early through goals from Angelo Stiller (13th minute) and Chris Lührich (19th minute). However, Ajax was able to compensate for Jeff Chabot (52nd minute) and a goal from Chuba Akpom (86th minute). Davy Klaassen saw the red card in the 56th minute, but stayed on the pitch. In this match, Stuttgart changed the entire Roman team after a strong first half, and Jamie Leweling celebrated his comeback after his injury, while Deniz Undav trained individually.

In other test games, VfL Bochum achieved an impressive 6-2 victory against Wuppertaler SV, with Samuel Bamba contributing two goals. Borussia Mönchengladbach played 2-2 against Nec Nijmegen, with a penalty goal by Tomas Cvancara and another goal from Alassane Pléa. The results of the test games on January 5, 2025 included:

• Bayer Leverkusen-Rot-Weiß Oberhausen: 2: 0
• VfL Bochum - Wuppertaler SV: 6: 2
• Borussia Mönchengladbach - Nec Nijmegen: 2: 2
• Union Berlin - Holstein Kiel: 1: 2

The test game between VfB Stuttgart and Ajax Amsterdam took place on January 6, 2025 and also ended with 2: 2.