The European champions meet the winners of the Copa América in the Finalissima. The new competition was agreed on 15 December 2020 after UEFA and CONMEBOL signed an updated agreement in principle. Italy qualified for the match thanks to the 3-2 win on penalties against England in last year's European Championships final; the Argentina team including Werkself midfielder Palacios won the South American title again for the first time in 28 years – with a 1-0 win against Brazil in the final.
Exequiel Palacios has won 18 full international caps to date. The match at Wembley Stadium kicks off tonight at 20.45 CEST.
The other Bayer 04 players will be on the pitch on Friday 3 June. Mitchel Bakker is first up with the Netherlands U21s in a European championship qualifier away to Moldova at 18.45 CEST. Bakker & Co. are currently second in Group 5 and they are only two points behind the leaders Switzerland having played one game less.
Then Moussa Diaby and France take on Denmark in the UEFA Nations League in Group 1A. The kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris is at 20.45 CEST.
Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou play their first matches in the Africa Cup of Nations from 21.00 CEST. The Werkself number 12 with Burkina Faso face Cape Verde in Marrakesh. Kossounou and the Ivory Coast play at the same time at home to Zambia in Yamoussoukro.
The #InternationalWerkself day is rounded off by Piero Hincapie with Ecuador. La Tri play the first of three friendlies in New Jersey (USA). Nigeria are the opponents in the first match. That game starts at 02.30 CEST.
Jonathan Tah is with Germany on Saturday 4 June for the game against hosts Italy in Bologna in Group 3A of the UEFA Nation's League. RTL will broadcast the match live on terrestrial TV as well as via a live stream from 20.15 CEST. The match kicks off at 20.45 CEST.
Before that, the Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland are also in action in the Nations League. The opponents in their first match in Group 3B are Bosnia-Herzegovina. The kick-off at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki is at 18.00 CEST.
INTERNATIONAL FXTURES:
Lukas Hradecky – Finland
4 June, 18.00 CEST: Finland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (UEFA Nations League)
7 June, 18.00 CEST: Finland vs Montenegro (UEFA Nations League)
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Romania vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Jonathan Tah – Germany
4 June, 20:45 CEST: Italy vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)
7 June, 20:45 CEST: Germany vs England (UEFA Nations League)
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Hungary vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Germany vs Italy (UEFA Nations League)
Moussa Diaby – France
3 June, 20.45 CEST: France vs Denmark (UEFA Nations League)
6 June, 20.45 CEST: Croatia vs France (UEFA Nations League)
10 June, 20.45 CEST: Austria vs France (UEFA Nations League)
13 June, 20.45 CEST: France vs Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Exequiel Palacios – Argentina
1 June, 20.45 CEST: Italy vs Argentina (Finalissima)
Piero Hincapie – Ecuador
3 June, 02.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Nigeria (Friendly)
6 June, 01.30 CEST: Mexico vs Ecuador (Friendly)
12 June, 23.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Cape Verde (Friendly)
Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
3. June, 21.00 CEST: Burkina Faso vs Cape Verde (AFCON qualifier)
7. June, 15.00 CEST: Eswatini vs Burkina Faso (AFCON qualifier)
Odilon Kossounou – Ivory Coast
3 June, 21.00 CEST: Ivory Coast vs Zambia (AFCON qualifier)
9 June, 21.00 CEST: Lesotho vs Ivory Coast (AFCON qualifier)
Mitchel Bakker – Netherlands U21
3 June, 18.45 CEST: Moldova U21 vs Netherlands U21 (Euro qualifier)
7 June, 20.00 CEST: Netherlands U21 vs Gibraltar U21 (Euro qualifier)
11 June, 18.00 CEST: Wales U21 vs Netherlands U 21 (Euro qualifier)
A disciplined defensive performance in the second leg saw Bayer 04 prevail against Olympiacos in the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26. Thanks to the 2-0 away win in the first leg, the goalless draw at home at the BayArena was enough to ensure progress to the next round. The Black and Reds kept their opponents away from their goal for the best part of 90 minutes.
Show more
Bayer 04 can go through to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the ninth time tonight, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET) and be in the top 16 clubs in Europe. A good omen: Leverkusen have progressed to the next round after winning the first leg in 20 of their 22 knockout rounds in European competitions to date. For their part, Greek record champions Olympiacos rested several players for last weekend’s league fixture ahead of the play-off second leg at the BayArena and will now do everything in their power to turn the tide with their usual aggressive and high pressing. The discussions on Werkself radio are likely to be just as intense as the battle on the pitch, with commentator Florian Bechholz welcoming honorary captain Stefan Kießling and goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
With the advantage of the 2-0 first-leg win in the play-offs, the Werkself are looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the home game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich spoke about the position ahead of the match, the visitors' strength at set-pieces and a personnel issue for the home side.
Show more
With a win in the Greek Super League last weekend, Olympiacos achieved success on the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg at Bayer 04 on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Coach José Luis Mendilibar rested many of his regular starters.
Show more
