Bundesliga
The wait was over for Bayer Leverkusen fans eager to see latest signings Lucas Vázquez and Ezequiel 'Equi' Fernández in action for the Werkself, with the duo stepping out in a lively friendly against Viktoria Köln.
The international break allowed Leverkusen to do some fine-tuning ahead of their return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt next Friday, and there was plenty to get excited about as the 2024 champions showcased their new stars.
Bayer 04 ran out 2-1 winners at third-tier Viktoria, with Christian Kofane and USMNT international Malik Tillman both on target in a game that featured two 30-minute halves.
As the game progressed, many eyes from the sidelines were trained on former Real Madrid full-back Vázquez - who was more commonly known as Lucas when playing in Spain - and Argentinian U23 international Fernández, both of whom put in solid showings.
The five-time UEFA Champions League winner Vázquez even won the penalty which his new teammate Tillman converted.
Speaking after the encounter, Leverkusen's managing director for sport, Simon Rolfes, said, "This game was another step forward. Lucas (Vázquez) naturally brings a lot of experience and quality to our game, and he and Loïc (Badé) led the way in terms of communication today."
Rolfes continued, "With Equi Fernández, you could see that he was getting better every minute. It was important for all of them today."
Prior to signing autographs for expectant fans, the versatile full-back Vázquez said, "Overall, it was a good team performance, even though a lot of players were missing due to the internationals and everything still needs to settle a little."
In quotes appearing on Bayer 04's official website, the 34-year-old added that he, "still has work to do, but I feel good after the first sessions here and I'm ready to get stuck in."