The Werkself sealed qualification for the Champions League with a game to play thanks to an outstanding second half in the away game at TSG Hoffenheim. The man of the match for the third placed team from Leverkusen was once again striker Patrik Schick who scored a brace and also provided an assist for Moussa Diaby.
kicker justifiably named the Czech striker as the Man of the Match. The reasoning in the football journal: "There were three world-class actions. Three pieces of magic and three moves that demonstrate the capabilities of the centre-forward. The Czech Republic international, who scored goals 23 and 24 on his 26th appearance, impressively demonstrated his class and importance to Bayer 04."
Schick, who is in the kicker Team of the Day for the fourth time, is joined by his teammates Diaby (for a sixth time), Edmond Tapsoba (two) and Charles Aránguiz (one). Schick is also included in the team of matchday 33 on Sportschau.de.
Bild-Zeitung included both Diaby and Schick in their Team of the Day. And Werkself head coach Gerardo Seoane was named Coach of the Matchday for his decisions in the game. The trio all received top marks.
Lukas Hradecky, Patrik Schick and Co. looked particularly good in the red T-shirts in Sinsheim and the celebration of the 13th campaign in Europe's premier club competition went down well the fans. Minutes after the start of sales, the first run of the "Back again – Bayer in the Champions League" T-shirts were sold out. And the second run is going fast. Anyone wanting a shirt should grab the chance now. The last of 1,800 T-shirts are changing hands. Click here for the T-Shirt.
The impressive performances and results for the Werkself in 2022 are clearly reflected in the Bundesliga second half of the season table: Bayer 04, like the former and new champions Bayern Munich, have picked up an impressive 33 points from 16 games since the start of the year. Only RB Leipzig (35) have picked up more points. In addition, FC Bayern and the Werkself both have the same goal difference of +20.
The Black and Reds and 28 points in the first half of the season – putting them fourth. Bayer 04 have one game left play this season: the home game against SC Freiburg on Saturday 14 May at 15.30 CEST at the BayArena.
Bayer 04 congratulates Jupp Heynckes on his 77th birthday. The Gladbach-born player and coach was in charge of Bayer 04 from 1 July 2009 and he went 29 games without defeat across two seasons – back then a record in the Bundesliga. The Black and Reds finished runners-up in 2010/11 and reached the Round of 16 in the Europa League with Heynckes in charge.
Thanks to the second-place finish the year before, Heynckes was the first coach in seven years to take the Werkself back into the Champions League. Up to his departure at the end of the 2010/11 season, his time in the dugout over 38 games included 20 wins, 8 draws and 10 defeats. Heynckes together with his assistant coach and club legend Peter Hermann then moved on to Bayern Munich.
There were also plenty of congratulations amongst the Bayer 04 Women's squad at training today as two players celebrated their birthdays. Caroline Siems is 23, Julia Pollak 20. Full-back Siems joined Leverkusen at the start of the season from English club Aston Villa and has played 17 times for the Black and Reds. The youth international Pollak also joined the club in the summer of last year. The defender on loan from Bayern Munich has made nine appearances for the Bayer 04 Women's team. Many happy returns.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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