
Striker Karim Bellarabi will not be able to train with the squad for several days. The forward had to go off in Tuesday night's DFB Cup semi-final at Saarbrücken (3-0) due to a slight muscle injury in his right thigh. When the 30-year-old will be able to rejoin his teammates on the pitch depends on his recovery over the next few days.
Thanks to his impressive performances, Kai Havertz is in the running to be the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for May. The 21-year-old has scored five goals in four league matches since the Bundesliga restart and has three times led the Werkself onto the pitch as captain. Click HERE to vote.
The following Bundesliga players are also nominated in addition to Havertz: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund), Christoph Baumgartner (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) plus Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard (both FC Bayern).
Thanks to the 3-0 win in the semi-finals, the Black and Reds are through to the fourth DFB Cup final in the club's history. Back in 1993, the Werkself showed how to win that game and go on to lift the cup. Bayer 04 TV looks back at the highlights of the cup triumph against the Hertha Berlin Reserves 27 years ago today. Click HERE for the video.
Two former Bayer 04 players celebrate their birthday today: Eren Derdiyok played up front for the Werkself from 2009 to 2012 and in the 2013/14 season. The 32-year-old scored 26 goals for the Black and Reds in 108 Bundesliga appearances. Derdiyok is now playing for Pakhtakor Tashkent in Uzbekistan. And birthday greetings also go to Markus Anfang today. Born in Cologne, he played for the Bayer 04 youth teams and was youth coach at Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016. Anfang celebrates his 46th birthday today. Many happy returns, Eren and Markus.

Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Another showdown in the race for the Champions League places takes place in Swabia: on Saturday 9 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Werkself visit VfB Stuttgart, who are only behind on goal difference. In his pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about confidence, excitement and mentality.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with full-back Arthur ahead of schedule. The Werkself have agreed a new deal with the Brazilian to 30 June 2031. The 23-year-old was previously under contract to the summer of 2028.
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