Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza scored his fourth goal of the season during a 4-2 defeat to VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena, DZfoot reported. The match, which served as the opening fixture of the 8e journée of the Bundesliga, saw Leverkusen slip at home while the Algerian playmaker managed to stand out amidst the team’s defensive collapse.
Operating between the lines with his back to goal and facing forward, Maza commanded the midfield from the starting whistle. A sequence in the 79th minute yielded his fourth goal of the campaign, as he met a cross inside the penalty area with a header that sailed past the goalkeeper’s left side to narrow the deficit to 4-1. Earlier in the match, the Algerian international executed a tight-space escape near the touchline, eluding four defenders to maintain possession.
Stuttgart Defeat Overshadows Maza’s Fourth Goal of the Season
The 4-2 loss halted Leverkusen’s momentum at a time when the club hoped to capitalize on the Klassiker fixture between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to climb closer to the upper reaches of the Bundesliga table. DZfoot noted that prior to the fixture, Maza had accumulated three goals and three assists across 11 appearances in all competitions, a tally he elevated with his header against Stuttgart.
Ah ouais d’accord , je comprends pourquoi Messi il le kiff pic.twitter.com/5V4Tofgjmn
The performance arrived on the heels of individual recognition on the global stage. Lionel Messi placed Maza third in his voting for the Trophée Kopa, behind Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. As the sole voter to select the midfielder, the Argentine forward awarded him a single point, placing him ninth overall in the final standings, according to DZfoot records.
Comparisons to Wirtz and Ambitions with Leverkusen and Algeria
In a recent interview with the Bundesliga reported by La Gazette du Fennec, Maza addressed comparisons to teammate Florian Wirtz, which circulated on social media following a technical sequence in the build-up to Patrik Schick’s goal against Fribourg. Maza responded to the parallels with humility, stating he intends to carve out his own distinct path.
“Flo est un joueur incroyable, une véritable légende du Bayer Leverkusen,” Maza told the Bundesliga, as reported by La Gazette du Fennec. “J’essaie toujours de suivre mon propre chemin et d’être mon propre joueur. Je pense que nous sommes un peu différents en termes de style de jeu, mais bien sûr, c’est agréable de pouvoir marcher sur les traces d’un si grand joueur.”
Le 𝗕𝗨𝗧 de 𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗛𝗜𝗠 𝗠𝗔𝗭𝗔 en 𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘́𝗢 ! 🎬⚽️ pic.twitter.com/MzlqG3YZQ1 https://t.co/AnNHxJZld7
Reflecting on his progression, Maza acknowledged that his output of five goals and six assists across 44 matches last season fell short of his standards. He outlined team and personal targets for the current campaign, emphasizing a desire to secure silverware with the German club.
On the international front, the midfielder discussed his attachment to the Algeria national team, representing the heritage passed down by his father. Maza expressed a firm ambition to secure a continental title with the Fennecs, pointing to the Africa Cup of Nations as a primary objective.
“Cela signifie beaucoup pour moi de pouvoir jouer pour mes racines, pour mon sang, pour ainsi dire, à travers mon père,” Maza told La Gazette du Fennec. “C’est un grand honneur de représenter ce pays. Nous avons un grand objectif. Je veux absolument gagner la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations avec eux.”
