Bayer Leverkusen kept their pre-season momentum going with a comfortable 3:0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen in a club friendly on Friday. The hosts took an early lead through Ibrahim Maza, who found the net in the ninth minute before Patrik Schick added a penalty in the 23rd. By then, the pattern was clear — Leverkusen controlled proceedings while Essen struggled to mount any real threat.
Maza was substituted in the 34th minute, and the third goal came in the 79th, though the scorer wasn't recorded. Essen picked up four yellow cards compared to Leverkusen's two, with Gianluca Swajkowski among those cautioned in the first half. The visitors had their moments but couldn't convert them.
The statistics tell a familiar story for Leverkusen's pre-season. Both sides held 50 per cent possession, but the hosts registered 63 attacks against Essen's 48. Five corners for Leverkusen versus two for the visitors suggests they dominated in the final third. And here's the thing — possession alone doesn't always translate into chances created.
Leverkusen have been in fine form ahead of the new campaign. They beat Genk 4:0, saw off Kickers Offenbach 3:1, and put seven past SF Baumberg in recent friendlies. The defense has looked solid, conceding just once in five matches this pre-season.
Essen's results have been more mixed. An 11:0 win against Bottrop stands out, but they also lost 3:0 to Ried and 2:0 to Greuther Fürth. The club sits in a transitional phase, and this match offered a chance to test tactics against a higher-calibre opponent.
The final scoreline reflected the difference in quality on the day. Leverkusen move forward with confidence, while Essen have work to do before the season starts. Three clean sheets in a row for the hosts now.