Jonathan Tah and Co. split up into groups of three for the day working in the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehab and training centre at the BayArena, on a range of tests and checks. That included taking blood and measuring body fat as well hip strength measurements plus different diagnostic procedures to test coordination, mobility and stability.
Before clocking off, the Werkself players underwent spiroergometry to finish off. Wearing respirator masks, the players were put through their paces as they clocked up as many miles as possible on the treadmill to test their stamina levels.
The squad led by head coach Xabi Alonso return to the training ground for the first time on Friday 2 December. The first session with the ball starts at 10.30 CET on training pitches 1 and 2. The Alonso team have a second training session in the afternoon at 14.30 CET.
Both sessions are open to Black and Red fans but last-minute changes are possible.
Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.
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After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.
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"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.
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