Highlights
0:21
WATCH: HRADECKY: "I'VE NEVER SEEN DIABY IN BETTER FORM!"
90'
+ 1
FULL TIME! LEVERKUSEN 3-0 ARMINIA
Leverkusen consolidate third with a wholly deserved win. Three goals, including two from Diaby, and it could easily have been worse for Arminia.
Full-time
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
85'
STINGER!
Leverkusen not done yet as Alario stings the palms of Ortega. The Arminia No.1's prevented a cricket score today!
83'
DOUBLE SWITCH
That's Diaby's final action. Adli's on for his French compatriot. Hincapie replaces Bakker. So much quality in this Leverkusen squad!
82'
DIABY DOUBLE!
Leverkusen home and hosed now! Ramos' header falls straight to Diaby. He goes on the outside of Laursen, before firing across Ortega, and in off the far post.
82'
Substitution
82'
Substitution
77'
CHANGES FOR BOTH SIDES
Kramer gives Okugawa and Wimmer the hook. A wise move perhaps, with next week's relegation six-pointer against Augsburg in mind. US international George Bello makes his third Bundesliga appearance, with Robin Hack also on. Leverkusen go like for like as Tim Fosu-Mensah and Kerem Demirbay replace Jeremie Frimpong - who's been excellent, by the way - and Exequiel Palacios respectively.
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
69'
HRADECKY DOES HIS JOB
A ball is played across the box to the in-form Okugawa. Hradecky goes to ground as the Arminia man shifts inside, but keeps enough of his frame upright to block the eventual chip. Big chance!
61'
WIDE!
Wirtz is blocked not once, but twice. Frimpong is on the scene, smashing his effort wide of the post.
57'
DIABY GOAL!
Moments after Tah sees a shot blocked, Bayer double their lead. Diaby starts his run from deep, before exchanging passes with Wirtz, riding a few challenges and slotting beyond Ortega. Daylight for Bayer, just when the visitors were getting a foothold in the game.
53'
ROUTINE SAVE
Schöpf winds up from range, firing straight down the throat of Hradecky. Arminia have already created more in this opening spell than across the entire first half.
51'
HALF CHANCE
Arminia still haven't got to grips with Frimpong. He races away and cuts a ball back to the edge of the box. Diaby lets it run for Palacios, who side-foots straight at Ortega.
50'
LASME!
Lasme uses his pace to get in behind Bakker. He's into the box, but the angle's tight and he can't beat Hradecky at his near post.
49'
OFFSIDE GOAL!
Stunning play from Leverkusen as Paulinho collects from Diaby and disguises a wonderful dinked pass over the top of the Arminia defence. Alario controls, rounds Ortega and slots home, but was a fraction offside when he received the pass.
46'
DOUBLE CHANGE
Positive from Frank Kramer. The fleet-footed Bryan Lasme is on in attack for Janni Serra, while ex-Leverkusen midfielder Gonzalo Castro replaces Sebastian Vasiliadis.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 2
HALF-TIME: LEVERKUSEN 1-0 BIELEFELD
Leverkusen deservedly ahead, but should arguably have put away a couple more. Arminia will take heart from the fact there's still only a goal in this, after being massively outplayed in a one-sided first half.
45'
+ 2
xGoals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
1
1.88
0.32
0
Goals
45'
+ 2
Goal attempts
8off target
4on target
5off target
1on target
Half-time
39'
ORTEGA MAKES HIMSELF BIG
Bielefeld's No.1 is keeping his side in the game. He's out quickly to block Alario's dinked attempt - with his face. That all came about following another superb bit of play from Wirtz. Arminia cannot live with the teenager.
38'
SO CLOSE!
Arminia so close to levelling, and out of nothing at that. Wimmer and Okugawa are inevitably involved, before Kunze arrows a first-time hit milimetres wide of Hradecky's righht-hand post. He was beaten.
31'
LEVERKUSEN LEAD!
It's the Diaby-Frimpong combo that unlocks the visiting defence. Paulinho swipes at the cross, handling in the process, with his attempt falling kindly for Alario to sweep into the roof of the net from close range. The goal stands, following a VAR review.
30'
SituationGoal
ReviewPrevious handball?
DecisionGoal
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
OFFSIDE
Not for the first time, Diaby drops deep to pick his cross. Paulinho's first to it, heading wide from an offside position. It's all Leverkusen.
26'
FRIMPONG THREAT
Leverkusen continue to overload the flanks, particularly the right-hand side through Frimpong. He's involved in the build-up again as Bakker takes aim from 18 yards, the Bayer midfielder's dragged effort hitting Frimpong in an offside position and going wide.
24'
GETTING CLOSER
Backs to the wall for Arminia as Leverkusen work the ball from left to right. The overlapping Frimpong collects from Diaby and finds Paulinho with a low cross. He connects with a smart flicked attempt, but doesn't catch out Ortega.
20'
DENIED!
Diaby clips a ball into the six-yard box. Wirtz shows a deft backwards header to help it onto Paulinho, who's denied at point-blank range by the on-rushing Ortega. That's three good chances not taken by the Brazil international.
15'
ALARIO HEADER!
Leverkusen shift the ball patiently to the left of the Arminia area. It's worked back to Bakker, who lifts a telling cross into the area. Alario rises highest, but sends his downward header wide of the far post. Not sure Ortega would have got there.
11'
LEVERKUSEN IN CHARGE
Possession (%)
7129
8'
PAULINHO AGAIN!
Brilliant from Wirtz. He gets between the lines and touches the ball into the box for Paulinho. Ortega is quick off his line, though, and blocks the Bayer No.7's low shot.
6'
HALF CHANCE!
Bakker only half clears a cross into the Leverkusen area. Vasiliadis takes on the volley kung-fu style, but it's straight at Hradecky.
4'
OVER!
Frimpong gets forward and finds the head of Alario, who can't direct his effort on target. Leverkusen have started with a real spring in their step.
2'
PAULINH-NO!
Leverkusen turn defence into attack, with Wirtz taking out three players and sending Paulinho clean through on goal. He has teammates to his right, but Ortega stands up well and forces the Brazilian wide before blocking his attempted cross.
2'
EARLY CORNER
Leverkusen concede possession in their own half. Wimmer turns to face goal and crosses towards the penalty spot, but Aranguiz puts it behind for a corner that comes to nothing.
1'
AWAY WE GO!
Bielefeld get the ball rolling, dressed in white, blue and black shirts, with white shorts and socks. Leverkusen are in their usual red and black colours.
Kick-off!
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
The two sets of players huddle together, with thoughts and prayers very much with the people of Ukraine.
HERE THEY COME
The teams are out at the BayArena. It's not a full house, but we do have fans in attendance.
LUCAS ALARI-GOAL?
The injured Schick has 20 goals in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen this season, and is second only to Robert Lewandowski (28) in the scoring charts. His replacement, Lucas Alario, has scored twice, albeit with both efforts falling across Leverkusen's last four games. The Argentina international - who struck 11 times last term - is making only his second league start of the campaign.
2:03
WATCH: BIELEFELD 1-0 UNION
TOP-FOUR FODDER
Despite that slip-up against Mainz, Leverkusen have consolidated their position in the top four in recent weeks. With four wins and a draw in six matches in 2022, they've put four points between themselves and fifth place. Only Leipzig and Dortmund (both 15 points) have fared better since the start of the Rückrunde.
BIELEFELD ON THE UP
Bielefeld have taken eight points from 15 on offer since the turn of the year (W4, D3, L1). They begin the weekend in 14th place, three points clear of the relegation play-off spot occupied by Augsburg, who face Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
SEAONE TARGETS IMPROVED SHOWING
"We weren't tenacious or direct enough against Mainz," said Leverkusen's head coach at his pre-match press conference. "That's why we've been working on our attacking game and wing play. Bielefeld will be compact. To create space, we need to move the ball quickly and play with variety."
0:24
WATCH: ARMINIA IN THE HOUSE
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Leverkusen head coach Gerardo Seoane makes four changes to the team that lost 3-2 to Mainz. Mitchel Bakker returns from suspension at left-back, with Piero Hincapie making way. Charles Aranguiz comes in for Robert Andrich, who has been carrying a knock, while Paulinho is preferred to Amine Adli. Top scorer Patrik Schick, who picked up a knock last time out, is replaced like-for-like by Lucas Alario. As for Arminia, it's just the one change following their 1-0 win over Union Berlin. Nathan de Medina is in at right-back for Cedric Brunner.
LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI
Hradecky (c) - Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker - Aranguiz, Palacios - Diaby, Wirtz, Paulinho - Alario
LEVERKUSEN SUBS
Grill, Lomb, Kossounou, Sinkgraven, Fosu-Mensah, Hincapie, Andrich, Demirbay, Adli
BIELEFELD STARTING XI
Ortega (c) - de Medina, Ramos, Nilsson, Laursen - Kunze, Vasiliadis - Wimmer, Schöpf, Okugawa - Serra
BIELEFELD SUBS
Kapino, Pieper, Bello, Andrade, Castro, Hack, Klos, Lasme, Krüger
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about Leverkusen against Bielefeld on Matchday 24.