A German Tale: Leverkusen On the Rise - Presented by BigJdotcom01

[bigjdotcom01]

I am back as I have picked up FIFA 21 and will be heading back to the Bundesliga this year to run with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. I have run dynasties back in FIFA 14 with Hambuger SV and FIFA 16 in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach, then went with La Liga side RCD Espanyol in FIFA 19.

I make my return to the Bundesliga this year with a side that has never been crowned champion in Leverkusen. They have finished runner up five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2011). The club has won one DFB-Pokal (1993), and finished runner up three times (2002, 2009, 2020).

The club has enjoyed some European success, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998 and finishing runner up in the Champions League in 2002.


We will be using Operation Sports Community Sliders on the World Class setting. Defense seems near impossible for me this year on this setting but it is way too easy playing on Professional so we will just deal with it. This is purely fictional and as far as I am concerned, once this dynasty starts, we move forward in that universe.

If you have followed any of my dynasties they are basically just meat and potatoes recaps that help to keep me invested in the club. So just sit back and I hope that you enjoy.

2020-21 SEASON
The Down Low on Die Werkself:

MANAGER: Mister Ninja
CAREER RECORD: (0-0-0)
STADIUM: BayArena (Capacity: 30,810)
RIVALS: 1. FC Koln
TRANSFER BUDGET: $54,236,440
CLUB WORTH: $515,017,000
WEEKLY WAGE BUDGET: $393,000
EXPECTATIONS: Win DFB-Pokal; Champions League spot in Bundesliga; Win UEFA Europa League

[bigjdotcom01]

BAYER LEVERKUSEN RIVALS:

2020-21 Bundesliga Record: (15-4-15, 49 pts) 8th place
2021-22 Bundesliga Record: (18-7-9, 61 pts) 5th place
2022-23 Bundesliga Record: (10-2-3, 32 pts) 3rd place

Home: (34-8-17)
Away: (35-6-18)
Neutral: (10-3-5)

DFB-Pokal Record: (6-0-2)
Champions League Record: (4-0-4)
Europa League Record: (17-1-3)
2020 European International Cup: (2-1-2, Lost in Final)
2021 South American Continental Cup: (3-1-1, Lost in Final)
2022 Champions Cup: (4-1-0, Champion)



AJAX (2-0-0)
February 17, 2021: Ajax 2:3 Leverkusen (Europa League, Round of 32)
February 24, 2021: Leverkusen 4:1 Ajax (Europa League, Round of 32)


ARMINIA BIELEFELD (1-1-2)
October 17, 2020: Leverkusen 0:4 Arminia Bielefeld
February 28, 2021: Arminia Bielefeld 5:1 Leverkusen
December 19, 2021: Leverkusen 5:0 Arminia Bielefeld
April 3, 2022: Arminia Bielefeld 2:2 Leverkusen


ARSENAL (1-1-0)
April 29, 2021: Arsenal 0:1 Leverkusen (Europa League, Semifinal)
May 6, 2021: Leverkusen 0:0 Arsenal (Europa League, Semifinal)


ATALANTA (2-0-1)
July 8, 2020: Leverkusen 4:0 Atalanta (European International Cup)
September 14, 2021: Leverkusen 1:2 Atalanta (Champions League)
November 21, 2021: Atalanta 0:3 Leverkusen (Champions League)


ATLETICO MINEIRO (1-0-0)
July 4, 2021: Leverkusen 3:2 Atletico Mineiro (South American Continental Cup)


AUGSBURG (4-1-1)
August 22, 2020: Leverkusen 1:4 Augsburg
March 29, 2021: Augsburg 2:3 Leverkusen
November 20, 2021: Leverkusen 2:1 Augsburg
April 22, 2022: Augsburg 1:2 Leverkusen
November 6, 2022: Leverkusen 1:1 Augsburg
November 30, 2022: Leverkusen 2:1 Augsburg (DFB-Pokal)
February 4, 2023:


AZ ALKMAAR (0-0-0)
February 16, 2023:
February 23, 2023:


BAYERN MUNICH (2-0-4)
September 20, 2020: Bayern Munich 2:1 Leverkusen
April 18, 2021: Leverkusen 0:2 Bayern Munich
May 22, 2021: Leverkusen 2:4 Bayern Munich (DFB-Pokal Final)
December 11, 2021: Bayern Munich 3:2 Leverkusen
February 13, 2022: Leverkusen 4:0 Bayern Munich
October 9, 2022: Leverkusen 4:0 Bayern Munich
March 1, 2023:


BORUSSIA DORTMUND (0-0-5)
December 5, 2020: Leverkusen 0:5 Dortmund
February 13, 2021: Dortmund 2:0 Leverkusen
December 15, 2021: Dortmund 3:0 Leverkusen
February 4, 2022: Leverkusen 0:2 Dortmund
September 24, 2022: Dortmund 5:0 Leverkusen
February 11, 2023:


BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (6-0-1)
September 26, 2020: Leverkusen 3:1 Monchengladbach
April 8, 2021: Leverkusen 6:1 Monchengladbach (Europa League, Quarterfinal)
April 11, 2021: Monchengladbach 1:7 Leverkusen
April 15, 2021: Monchengladbach 1:0 Leverkusen (Europa League, Quarterfinal)
October 31, 2021: Leverkusen 4:0 Monchengladbach
April 10, 2022: Monchengladbach 1:3 Leverkusen
August 20, 2022: Leverkusen 4:3 Monchengladbach
March 19, 2023:


BRONDBY IF (2-0-0)
September 15, 2022: Brondby IF 1:3 Leverkusen (Europa League)
November 24, 2022: Leverkusen 1:0 Brondby IF (Europa League)


DINAMO ZAGREB (1-0-1)
October 21, 2021: Leverkusen 1:4 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League)
November 2, 2021: Dinamo Zagreb 1:4 Leverkusen (Champions League)


EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (2-1-2)
October 25, 2020: Eintracht Frankfurt 1:0 Leverkusen
December 2, 2020: Leverkusen 4:0 Eintracht Frankfurt (DFB-Pokal)
January 23, 2021: Leverkusen 2:4 Eintracht Frankfurt
October 16, 2021: Leverkusen 3:3 Eintracht Frankfurt
May 7, 2022: Eintracht Frankfurt 0:1 Leverkusen
December 17, 2022:
May 7, 2023:


EVERTON (1-0-0)
July 14, 2021: Leverkusen 1:0 Everton (South American Continental Cup - Semifinals)


FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (3-1-1)
October 28, 2020: Leverkusen 3:0 Fortuna Dusseldorf (DFB-Pokal)
October 27, 2021: Fortuna Dusseldorf 2:1 Leverkusen (DFB-Pokal)
November 6, 2021: Fortuna Dusseldorf 1:3 Leverkusen
May 1, 2022: Leverkusen 2:2 Fortuna Dusseldorf
September 18, 2022: Fortuna Dusseldorf 1:3 Leverkusen
February 19, 2023:


SC FREIBURG (3-0-0)
December 16, 2020: Leverkusen 3:1 SC Freiburg
April 23, 2021: SC Freiburg 2:3 Leverkusen
November 26, 2022: Leverkusen 4:1 SC Freiburg
January 31, 2023: (DFB-Pokal)
March 11, 2023:


HAMBURGER SV (0-1-1)
September 11, 2021: Leverkusen 1:1 Hamburger SV
February 19, 2022: Hamburger SV 2:1 Leverkusen


HAMILTON ACADEMICAL (2-0-0)
September 17, 2020: Leverkusen 4:0 Hamilton Academical 0 (Europa League)
November 26, 2020: Hamilton Academical 1:3 Leverkusen (Europa League)


HANNOVER 96 (1-0-0)
August 12, 2022: Hannover 96 1:7 Leverkusen
April 1, 2023:


1. FC HEIDENHEIM (1-0-0)
October 25, 2022: FC Heidenheim 1:5 Leverkusen (DFB-Pokal)


HERTHA BERLIN (3-0-2)
December 19, 2020: Hertha Berlin 2:0 Leverkusen
May 8, 2021: Leverkusen 1:0 Hertha Berlin
November 28, 2021: Hertha Berlin 2:1 Leverkusen
January 29, 2022: Leverkusen 2:1 Hertha Berlin
October 22, 2022: Leverkusen 3:0 Hertha Berlin
January 22, 2023:


TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM (3-0-2)
August 29, 2020: Hoffenheim 0:1 Leverkusen
February 5, 2021: Leverkusen 1:0 Hoffenheim
September 18, 2021: Hoffenheim 2:0 Leverkusen
March 6, 2022: Leverkusen 4:0 Hoffenheim
September 9, 2022: Leverkusen 1:2 Hoffenheim
April 7, 2023:


INTER MILAN (0-0-1)
July 19, 2020: Leverkusen 3:4 Inter Milan (European International Cup - Final)


1 FC KOLN (2-0-2)
October 4, 2020: FC Koln 0:2 Leverkusen
March 3, 2021: Leverkusen 2:3 FC Koln
October 24, 2021: FC Koln 0:3 Leverkusen
April 16, 2022: Leverkusen 2:3 FC Koln
December 13, 2022:
April 22, 2023:


LAZIO (0-0-1)
July 12, 2020: Leverkusen 4:6 Lazio (European International Cup)


LOSC (1-0-1)
September 29, 2022: Leverkusen 2:1 Lille (Europa League)
December 8, 2022: Lille 7:1 Leverkusen (Europa League)


LIVERPOOL (1-1-1)
August 11, 2021: Liverpool 2:2 (4:3) Leverkusen (UEFA Super Cup)
September 29, 2021: Liverpool 1:2 Leverkusen (Champions League)
December 7, 2021: Leverkusen 1:4 Liverpool (Champions League)


FSV MAINZ 05 (3-1-1)
November 21, 2020: Leverkusen 1:2 FSV Mainz 05
March 6, 2021: FSV Mainz 05 4:4 Leverkusen
August 15, 2021: FSV Mainz 05 2:3 Leverkusen
March 19, 2022: Leverkusen 3:1 FSV Mainz 05
December 3, 2022: Mainz 05 2:3 Leverkusen
March 4, 2023:


MANCHESTER UNITED (0-0-1)
July 18, 2021: Leverkusen 1:3 Manchester United (South American Continental Cup - Final)


MONTERREY (1-0-0)
July 6, 2022: Leverkusen 6:1 Monterrey (Champions Cup)


NAPOLI (0-0-0)
July 17, 2022: (Champions Cup - Final)


PALMIERAS (1-0-0)
July 13, 2022: Leverkusen 3:1 Palmeiras (Champions Cup - Semifinal)


REAL MADRID (1-0-1)
February 16, 2022: Leverkusen 1:0 Real Madrid (Champions League - Round of 16)
March 8, 2022: Real Madrid 3:1 Leverkusen (Champions League - Round of 16)


REAL SOCIEDAD (3-0-0)
March 11, 2021: Leverkusen 3:2 Real Sociedad (Europa League - Round of 16)
March 18, 2021: Real Sociedad 1:4 Leverkusen (Europa League - Round of 16)
July 7, 2021: Real Sociedad 0:1 Leverkusen (South American Continental Cup)


RB LEIPZIG (4-2-1)
November 29, 2020: RB Leipzig 1:6 Leverkusen
February 20, 2021: Leverkusen 0:4 RB Leipzig
April 21, 2021: RB Leipzig 1:2 Leverkusen (DFB-Pokal Semifinal)
May 26, 2021: Leverkusen 5:3 (A.E.T.) RB Leipzig (Europa League, Final)
September 26, 2021: Leverkusen 1:1 RB Leipzig
March 1, 2022: RB Leipzig 2:5 Leverkusen
August 28, 2022: RB Leipzig 1:1 Leverkusen
April 15, 2023:


SCHALKE 04 (1-1-3)
November 8, 2020: Schalke 04 1:3 Leverkusen
March 13, 2021: Leverkusen 0:2 Schalke 04
December 5, 2021: Leverkusen 2:3 Schalke 04
January 23, 2022: Schalke 04 3:3 Leverkusen
October 29, 2022: Schalke 04 2:0 Leverkusen
May 13, 2023:


SIVASSPOR (1-0-1)
October 1, 2020: Sivasspor 0:3 Leverkusen (Europa League)
December 10, 2020: Leverkusen 2:3 Sivasspor (Europa League)


SL BENFICA (0-2-0)
July 5, 2020: Leverkusen 3:3 Benfica (European International Cup)
July 3, 2022: Leverkusen 1:1 SL Benfica (Champions Cup)


VFB STUTTGART (3-0-0)
August 15, 2020: Leverkusen 4:2 Stuttgart
April 3, 2021: Stuttgart 0:2 Leverkusen
December 10, 2022: Leverkusen 3:2 Stuttgart
April 29, 2023:


SV SANDHAUSEN (1-0-0)
February 2, 2021: Leverkusen 3:1 SV Sandhausen (DFB- Pokal)


TIGRES UNAL (1-0-0)
July 10, 2022: Leverkusen 2:1 Tigres UNAL (Champions Cup)


UNION BERLIN (4-0-0)
September 12, 2020: Leverkusen 2:1 Union Berlin
January 31, 2021: Union Berlin 1:5 Leverkusen
August 21, 2021: Leverkusen 2:1 Union Berlin
March 12, 2022: Union Berlin 0:3 Leverkusen


VIKTORIA PLZEN (2-0-0)
October 20, 2022: Viktoria Plzen 0:5 Leverkusen (Europa League)
November 3, 2022: Leverkusen 4:1 Viktoria Plzen (Europa League)


WARTA POZNAN (2-0-0)
October 22, 2020: Leverkusen 3:1 Warta Poznan (Europa League)
November 5, 2020: Warta Poznan 0:3 Leverkusen (Eurpoa League)


WERDER BREMEN (2-2-1)
October 31, 2020: Leverkusen 0:0 Werder Bremen
May 15, 2021: Werder Bremen 2:0 Leverkusen
October 2, 2021: Werder Bremen 0:0 Leverkusen
May 14, 2022: Leverkusen 3:0 Werder Bremen
November 19, 2022: Werder Bremen 0:1 Leverkusen
January 28, 2023:


VFL WOLFSBURG (2-2-1)
December 13, 2020: VfL Wolfsburg 1:1 Leverkusen
May 2, 2021: Leverkusen 0:0 VfL Wolfsburg
August 28, 2021: VfL Wolfsburg 4:2 Leverkusen
February 25, 2022: Leverkusen 3:2 VfL Wolfsburg
October 16, 2022: VfL Wolfsburg 0:2 Leverkusen
February 26, 2023:


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (0-2-0)
July 15, 2020: Leverkusen 1:1(3:2) Wolverhampton (European International Cup - Semifinal)
July 11, 2021: Leverkusen 2:2 Wolverhampton (South American Continental Cup)

[bigjdotcom01]

LEVERKUSEN HISTORY

2020-21 EUROPA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS


2022 CHAMPIONS CUP CHAMPIONS

2020-21 Season:
Bundesliga: (15-4-15, 49 pts) 8th Position
DFB Pokal: Runner Up (Lost in Final to Bayern Munich 4:2)
Europa League: Champion (Defeated RB Leipzig in Final 5-3)
MVP: Patrik Schick, ST APP: 45, Goals: 35, Assists: 19, MOTM: 7
Recap: While Leverkusen had a disappointing Bundesliga finish in 8th position with a .500 record, they made the final in the DFB-Pokal, losing to Bayern for a second consecutive year. The highlight was winning the Europa League for the second time in club history to automatically qualify for the 2021-22 Champions League, defeating RB Leipzig 5-3.

2021-22 Season:
Bundesliga: (18-7-9, 61 pts) 5th Position
DFB Pokal: Second Round (Lost to Dusseldorf 2:1)
Champions League: Round of 16 (Lost to Real Madrid on aggregate, 3-2)
MVP: Patrik Schick, ST APP: 36, Goals: 27, Assists: 16, MOTM: 7
Recap: Bayer Leverkusen capped off a relatively successful Bundesliga campaign in 2021-22, finishing in fifth position and earning a spot in the 2022-23 Europa League. While this did fall short of Board of Director expectations, it can still be considered successful. The team improved by 12 points going from 49 points and an eighth place finish, up to 61 points and a spot in Europe. The team made it to the round of 16 in the Champions League where they were ousted by Real Madrid. Once again, un realistic Board expectations were not met, but to finish as one of the best 16 club teams in Europe is quite the accomplishment. The team was upset in the second round of the DFB-Pokal by rival Fortuna Dusseldorf. The pain should be a bt less though as Dusseldorf advanced all the way to the final where they lost to FC Bayern Munich..



2020-21 Season:
Bundesliga Champion: FC Bayern Munich
DFB-Pokal Champion: FC Bayern Munich
Champions League: Liverpool (defeated PSG)
Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen (defeated RB Leipzig)
Relegated to Bundesliga 2: SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart
Promoted to Bundesliga: Fortuna Dusseldorf, Hamburger SV
Player of the Year: Erling Haaland (Dortmund)
Keeper of the Year: Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig)
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland (Dortmund), 23 goals
Manager of the Year: Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich)

2021-22 Season:
Bundesliga Champion: FC Bayern Munich
DFB-Pokal Champion: FC Bayern Munich
Champions League: FC Bayern Munich (defeated RB Leipzig)
Europa League: Roma FC (Defeated Manchester United)
Relegated to Bundesliga 2: Hamburger SV, Union Berlin, Arminia Bielefeld
Promoted to Bundesliga: SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96
Player of the Year: Thomas Muller (FC Bayern)
Keeper of the Year: Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern)
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland (Dortmund), 23 goals
Manager of the Year: Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich)

[bigjdotcom01]

2020-21 Preseason Roster

FORMATION: 4-3-3 HOLDING

This is the preseason roster for Leverkusen. Manager Mister Ninja likes to attack through the midfield and will try to shape this side into a 4-5-1 Attack side as we move forward. I am no expert on football formations, but I enjoy using this one.

[bigjdotcom01]

Leverkusen will open the inaugural season under new manager Mister Ninja in England at the European International Cup Tournament. They will be grouped with Lazio (Italy), SL Benfica (Portugal), and Atalanta (Italy). The others participating are: Inter Milan (Italy), Wolverhampton Wanderers (England), Everton (England) and Leicester City (England)

Highlights of their Bundesliga schedule are their rivalry games with 1. FC Koln, away on October 4, and home on March 3. They face off with Bundesliga favorites Bayern Munchen away on September 20 and home on April 17, while facing Dortmand at home on December 5 and away on February 13.

The club will also be participating in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League after finishing fifth in the Bundesliga in 2019-20. They have been drawn into Group J with Sivasspor (Turkey), Hamilton (Scotland), and Warta Poznan (Poland). The group stage begins on September 17 and they open at home against Hamilton.

The club will begin in the second round of the DFB-Pokal which is tentatively scheduled for December 22-23, 2020.

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Leverkusen's Board has made youth development a high priority moving forward. The club has put Thei Seidel in charge of youth scouting. The five-star scout will concentrate on home grown youth and has a nine month assignment to find the next German star.

[bigjdotcom01]

EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL CUP RECAP

Inter Milan took home the hardware with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Leverkusen

England (AP) - Bayer Leverkusen accepted an invitation to the prestigious European International Cup tournament in England to work on their preseason training with their new manger Mister Ninja. They would advance all the way to the finals but fell just short dropping a 4-3 decision to Italian power Inter Milan.

Leverkusen would advance through the group stage going (1-1-1). They would open with a 3:3 draw against SL Benfica. They would take apart Italian side Atalanta in their second group match 4-nil as Lucas Alario scored three times. Leverkusen stumbled in the group stage finale, falling 6-4 to Lazio in a wild match. Manager Ninja said afterwards that the club needs to be stronger on the back end and it was a concern moving forward.

Leverkusen would draw with Wolverhampton in the semifinals, but would advance on penalties (3:2).

In the final, Inter put on a masterful offensive display, led by Romelu Lukaku. He scored two goals after halftime as Inter built a 4-1 lead, but then had to hold on for dear life. Patrik Schick scored twice for Leverkusen in the final ten minutes and then was robbed at point blank range in injury time by Inter keeper Samir Handanovic.

Lukaku and Schick led the tournament in scoring as each player scored five goals, but Leverkusen striker Lucas Alario was named the Player of the Tournament. He had four goals and three assists in the five matches.

Overall, a successful trip to England for Bayer Leverkusen as they now prepare to open the Bundesliga next month.

[bigjdotcom01]

DFB-POKAL: ROUND 1

DFB-Pokal Round 1 Results:

Nurnberg 1:3 Dusseldorf
Paderhorn 1:0 Magdeburg
VFL Bochum 0:1 Turkgucu
Greuther Furth 0:1 Hannover 96
Bayern II 0:1 Viktoria Koln
Kiel 1:3 Ingolstadt
Aue 0:2 Heidenheim
Unterhaching 2:3 Hamburg
Wurzburg 1:1 Kaiserslautern (Wurzburg advanced 4-3 on penalties)
Braunschweig 0:2 Osnabruck
Saarbruck 0:1 Regensburg
Darmstadt 2:0 Hansa Rostock
TSV 1860 1:2 Karlsruhe
St Pauli 1:2 Sandhausen