While the five Bayer 04 players at the Euros all picked up three points for openers, the two Leverkusen players at the Copa América shared the points, the clash between Argentina with Exequiel Palacios and Chile with Charles Aránguiz ended all square at 1-1 after 90 minutes. Our number 25 came on for the Albiceleste on 68 minutes; Werkself captain Aránguiz went the full distance. The goals were scored by Lionel Messi (33') and the former Hoffenheim player Eduardo Vargas (57').
The next matches for the black and red duo take place this week: Chile play Bolivia on Friday, 18 June at 23.00 CEST, and Argentina take on Uruguay three hours later. The fifth team in Group A is Paraguay; four of the five teams from the two groups will go through.
Aleksandar Dragovic’s participation in Austria's opening match in the Euros against North Macedonia (3-1) ended at half-time. The central defender, who will play for Red Star Belgrade next season, suffered a cut from an elbow during the first half. As announced by the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB), the 30-year-old suffered a "double contused lateral wound to the right eye". Dragovic did have stitches but there was no sign of concussion according to ÖFB. Accordingly, he will now take part in individual recovery training.
Patrik Schick could hardly have had a better opening afternoon at the Euros. The 25-year-old Werkself centre-forward netted a brace for the Czech Republic in the 2-0 win against Scotland. Our number 14 first scored with his head and then with an incredible long-range shot from the halfway line – the unofficial title of the "best goal of the Euros" would appear to be heading his way. For anybody who missed it, you can see the goal again HERE. And anybody who has seen it: Just have a look at it again…
The victorious Leverkusen Euro quintet do not have much time to celebrate – the action continues almost straightaway. On Wednesday, 16 June (kick-off: 15.00 CEST), Finland with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and striker Joel Pohjanpalo take on Russia. The day after that, Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger are with Austria for the game against the Netherlands (kick-off: 21.00 CEST). Then on Friday there is a meeting between Schick's Czech Republic and Croatia (kick-off: 18.00 CEST). Good luck for the rest of the tournament, lads!
Away from the pitch to another very important social issue: blood donation. As part of the World Blood Donor Day, Bayer 04 are supporting the campaign #missingtype run by the German Red Cross (DRK). Join in, donate blood and save lives. Click HERE to register (in Germany).
Moreover: As the blood donation session at the BayArena last year was a complete success, Bayer 04 will again organise the event at the Werkself home ground – this year on 5 August. More information will be available over the course of the week at bayer04.de.
Finally, we have a very special auction for you: At United Charity you have the opportunity up to 27 June to bid for football boots worn and signed by Lars and Sven Bender. HERE is the auction for the boots worn by Lars, HERE for Sven's.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.
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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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