After Sunday's 1-0 victory in the friendly against Al-Wahda Mecca at the end of the training camp, Wednesday marks the start of the final run-in of the pre-season: The final challenge before the first competitive match of the season in the DFB Cup away to Pforzheim in eleven days (18 August, 15.30 CET) is a friendly against the Spanish top-flight club Valencia on Saturday (21.30 CET). Heiko Herrlich now has another two players available: World Cup runner-up Tin Jedvaj plus new signing Isaac Kiese Thelin, whose loan signing was announced on Tuesday afternoon. The duo, plus latecomer Paulinho, completed the obligatory performance tests in the gym at the BayArena in the morning, which included a wide range of assessments. "I'm very happy to be back here and can hardly wait to kick a ball again," said Jedvaj, who was granted an extended holiday by Heiko Herrlich after his participation in the World Cup final in Russia.
After the intensive World Cup with an historic runners-up spot for Croatia, he certainly felt the benefit of the break. "I enjoyed every second. Now it's a question of getting up to the physical level of the others as soon as possible and having a good season," said the 22-year-old Croat who now has the date of the World Cup final on his upper arm. In tomorrow's session (16.30 CET), Jedvaj returns to the Werkself training ground for the first time in three months.
The Werkstatt was not only busy because of the performance tests. Long-term injury Joel Pohjanpalo plus Charles Aránguiz (knee) and Panos Retsos (thigh) met up on the third upper floor at the BayArena for treatment and/or to complete their individual programmes. That also applied to Lukas Hradecky – albeit on the pitch. As he did in Zell am See, the new Werkself number one wore a lacrosse mask on the pitch as he worked on his comeback with goalkeeping coach David Thiel.
There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
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Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 Women clcoked up a 3-2 win in a friendly against Twente Enschede on Thursday afternoon in the last international break of 2025. In drizzle, Lilla Turanyi (16’), Kristin Kögel (65’) and Paulina Bartz (69’) scored the goals for the Werkself against the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen leaders, who are still unbeaten in the league.
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