Bayer Leverkusen missed out on a place in the Champions League with the narrowest of margins as they finished an inconsistent season in fifth position. Bayer ended the campaign level on points with Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund but had the worst goal difference record amongst the three teams which means they will be without Champions League football for a second straight season.
Heiko Herrlich was brought in with the express purpose of improving on a dismal campaign in the previous season, but initially it looked like a big task as Bayer could only manage to pick up four points from their opening five games.
Performances though improved as the season progressed and Bayer quickly climbed back up the table, sitting inside the top four when the season was interrupted by the winter break.
However, Bayer struggled for consistency in the second half of the season, with their fortunes fluctuating from being the closest challengers to Bayern Munchen to casting doubts over their ability to even secure a European qualification spot. Things were not helped by slump in form for some of their first choice players including Julian Brandt, who struggled to build on his breakout campaign from previous season, while Karim Bellarabi lost his place in the starting lineup.
Leon Bailey though emerged as the star player for Bayer, with the winger catching the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs with his performances, and dovetailed well with Kevin Volland in the attack.
Herrlich managed to steady the ship in the final weeks as Bayer picked up crucial victories over RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt only to suffer back to back defeats against Dortmund and Stuttgart while also dropping points against Werder Bremen that dashed their hopes of finishing inside the top four.
