After a strenuous an intensive week of training, the players had a later start to the day. After breakfast it was start of preparations for the Lazio match with a video and team meeting. That was followed by packing bags, a final lunch at the team hotel Tauern Spa and off into the team bus headed for Grödig. The hotel could return to quieter normality. But have no fear, Bayer 04 will return in the summer of 2018 for the next pre-season.
Just before lunch, Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich took time out to review events in Zell am See with the media. Overall, the coach was very happy with the training camp. "It's been a hard week of training. We had two intensive sessions every day up to Friday. I felt all the players were ready to get fully involved without any complaints," said a positive Heiko Herrlich.
There was one last challenge before the Bayer 04 group could start the return journey back home. The Werkself played their sixth friendly of the pre-season in Grödig near Salzburg in the afternoon. And it was a game against team that finished fifth in Serie A last term, Lazio. With Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler and sporting manager Jonas Boldt looking on, the Werkself felt the effects of the rigours of the past seven days and the high temperatures that led to a disappointing 3-1 defeat.
After a shower and an evening meal it was off in the team bus to the nearby Salzburg Airport for the charter flight to Cologne/Bonn airport. That was the final chapter of the visit to Austria in 2017. Charles Aránguiz returns on Monday for performance tests and Heiko Herrlich will lead the next training session on Wednesday.
Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
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The fixture details for the Bayer 04 Women’s first match in the 2026/27 DFB Pokal has been confirmed: As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday morning, the Leverkusen Women will face second-tier side FC Viktoria Berlin in the first round on Sunday 27 September at 14:00 CEST.
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40 years of European nights, unforgettable moments and great stories. With the new European jersey, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and kit supplier New Balance are celebrating the club’s history in European competitions under the epic slogan ‘40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.’ The European jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 web shop and the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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Here we go: the Bayer 04 European jersey has landed, and the draw for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League is coming up tomorrow. To mark the start of the 2026/27 European campaign, Bayer 04 are hosting an autograph session on Friday afternoon, 28 August, from 15:00 to 15:30 CEST at the Fanwelt, with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio. Brian the Lion will also be there.
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