
Leno looked focused and assured over the full 90 minutes in the 4-1 win and he was not at fault with the goal scored for the hosts by Dimitri Nazarov. It was Leno’s fourth cap for Germany. Julian Brandt, who played against England in Wednesday’s friendly, did not get the chance to make his sixth international appearance in Baku. Germany are well on course to qualify for next summer’s World Cup with a perfect record in the group to date.
Switzerland, with Admir Mehmedi in their ranks, have also picked up maximum points so far. The 26-year-old earned his 50th cap for Switzerland against Latvia and he provided the assist with a fine cross for the only goal of the game scored by former Leverkusen, and now Gladbach, striker Josip Drmic.
Kevin Kampl was the last Werkself player to appear over the weekend in Slovenia’s game against Scotland at Hampden Park. Kampl was substituted on 87 minutes just before Chris Martin scored the winner for Scots. Slovenia are third in Group F on eight points with England on top with 13 points.
Julian Baumgartlinger returned early from international duty on Sunday night. The Austria skipper is suffering with a toe injury ruling him out of Tuesday’s qualifier against Finland.


Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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