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.
Bayer 04 welcomed 14 media representatives from Africa on Friday, 1 December. The trip for journalists from the likes of Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mozambique, Togo, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Togo was organised by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) with the goal of establishing and promoting Africa as a new target market for the Bundesliga.
Show moreBayer 04 has modernised its media working area in the stands at the BayArena and equipped it with new, multifunctional monitors. The 50 screens will be used for the first time for the fixture against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga next Sunday, 3 December (kick-off: 17:30 CET) and offer the media representatives working at the BayArena on matchday numerous possibilities.
Show moreBayer 04 have little time to recover from their 2-0 win away at Häcken in the UEFA Europe League, ensuring progress to the round of 16, before their next challenge up against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Sunday (17:30 CET). At his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about BVB and gave a warning about not losing focus.
Show moreSpirits are high at Borussia Dortmund following their impressive display and result away at AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. On Sunday (17:30 CET), they want to keep an impressive week going with another scalp in Leverkusen. Here’s the lowdown on our next opponents.
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