Austria made a successful start to their Nations League campaign. The team, coached by former Werkself captain Franco Foda since November 2017, started the game in the Norwegian capital without Baumgartlinger and Dragovic. The two Bayer 04 players started on the bench. Ahead of the game, Foda explained that some of his players had not had enough training sessions due to the European finals tournaments and that he would therefore be careful in introducing them to competitive action.
Dragovic was able to take off his training kit near the end of the first half. The Frankfurt player Martin Hinteregger picked up an injury and the Leverkusen player came off the bench on 41 minutes. At that point it was 1-0 for the visitors – Augsburg's Michael Gregoritsch scored. After half-time, Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer (54') and Dortmund's Erling Haaland (66') scored the other two goals. The usual captain Baumgartlinger came on as a substitute on 88 minutes.
Foda did confirm that the Leverkusen player would remain as the skipper. "If my captain is 100 per cent fit then he'll play," said the coach who did not reveal whether Baumgartlinger would start on Monday night. Austria entertain Romania in Klagenfurt.
Diaby did play from the start. His France U21 team faced Georgia in a Euro qualifier and they ran out 2-0 winners. Diaby hit the woodwork on eight minutes and was substituted on 72 minutes. For the Leverkusen player and his teammates, their next game is a Euro qualifier in Azerbaijan on Monday, 7 September with the kick-off at 19.00 CET.
Jonathan Tah (Germany):
Sunday, 6 September (20.45 CET/live on ZDF): Switzerland v Germany (UEFA Nations League)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Monday, 7 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Austria v Romania (UEFA Nations League)
Joel Pohjanpalo and Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Sunday, 6 September (18.00 CET/live on DAZN): Ireland v Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Saturday, 5 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Portugal v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Tuesday, 8 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): France v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Lennart Grill (Germany U21):
Tuesday, 8 September (16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Belgium U21 v Germany U21 (U21 Euro qualifier)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Monday, 7 September (19.00 CET): Azerbaijan U21 v France U21 (U21 Euro qualifier)
Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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Werder Bremen play Bayer 04 for the 90th time in the Bundesliga this Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The overall record so far still favours the Green and Whites, who have 28 wins against the Black and Reds (with 25 defeats and 36 draws). The visit to the BayArena marks the start of a crucial busy week for Werder Bremen with clashes against TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach to follow. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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In keeping with the current freezing temperatures, Bayer 04 has heavily discounted numerous winter items – from cozy hats and sporty matchday clothing to stylish fleece and winter jackets.
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