Lucas Vazquez scores to double Bayer Leverkusen’s lead

Lucas Vázquez, the 35-year-old who spent a decade patrolling Real Madrid’s right flank, found the back of the net for Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga clash, marking his first goal in the German top flight since joining the club on a free transfer last summer.

The goal came in the 37th minute and proved decisive as Leverkusen secured a 1-0 victory over Werder Bremen at the BayArena on January 24, snapping a three-game losing streak.

A drought measured in thousands of days

Vázquez’s strike wasn’t just his first Bundesliga goal. It was his first goal scored away from Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu in 3,935 days. That’s roughly 10 years and 9 months, dating back to 2015, when he last managed the feat outside of his former home ground.

The Spaniard joined Leverkusen on August 26, 2025, signing a contract through 2027 after his long tenure at the Bernabéu came to an end.

Breaking the 2026 hex

Leverkusen had entered the new calendar year in rough shape, dropping three consecutive matches. Matchday 19 against Bremen was shaping up as a must-win, even by January standards.

Coach Kasper Hjulmand had relied on Vázquez consistently across Bundesliga and European competition throughout the season, deploying him primarily as a right-back but also utilizing his experience in wider attacking roles.

It was the club’s first win of the 2026 calendar year. For a squad competing in both the Bundesliga and European competition in the 2025-26 season, the psychological value of breaking a losing streak can’t be overstated.

From the Bernabéu to the BayArena

Born on July 1, 1991, Vázquez built his reputation at Real Madrid, where he won multiple Champions League titles over a decade in the Spanish capital.

His free transfer meant Leverkusen acquired a player with elite-level experience at zero acquisition cost. As of mid-2026, Vázquez remains firmly embedded in the squad with no reported transfer activity suggesting a departure. His contract runs through 2027, and his involvement in both competitive and friendly fixtures indicates that the club views him as a core contributor rather than a transitional signing.

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