Bayer 04 Leverkusen bounced back from the nearly disastrous season it came from, finishing in the top three and qualifying for the
UEFA Champions League in the process. The season marked the breakthrough for Bulgarian striker
Dimitar Berbatov, who scored 16 goals, whereas Brazilian signing
França contributed with 14 strikes. As it was, it was the attack that impressed the most, especially in the 6–2 crushing of champions
Werder Bremen on the penultimate day of the season.
^Jones was born in
Frankfurt,
West Germany, and represented Germany at
U-20,
U-21 and
B level and before making his international debut for
Germany in February 2008, but also qualified to represent the
United States through his father and made his international debut for the
United States in October 2010.
^Baştürk was born in
Herne,
West Germany, but also qualified to represent
Turkey internationally and made his international debut for
Turkey in 1998.
^Åžahin was born in
Cologne,
West Germany , but also qualified to represent
Turkey internationally and represented Turkey at
U-21 level.
^Neuville was born in
Locarno,
Switzerland, but also qualified to represent
Italy and
Germany internationally through his mother and father respectively and made his debut for
Germany in September 1998.