It's full steam ahead for the Werkself preparations for the Bundesliga home game against Schalke 04. After a day off on Sunday and an intensive session of the start of the week, Charles Aránguiz and Co. now have a training session every day up to the clash with the Royal Blues on Saturday, 3 April (kick-off: 15.30 CEST). The new head coach Hannes Wolf has big plans and he wants the Black and Reds to at least qualify for the Europa League.
The Bayer 04 players worked for over 90 minutes on Tuesday with shooting taking priority. The session ended with a practice match on a reduced-sized pitch and it was won by the Yellow team against the Red team, narrowly by 17 to 16 – both sides produced some admirable strikes.
In addition to Lukas Hradecky and Niklas Lomb, the U17 keeper Maximilian Neutgens joined the session late on for a spell between the posts. The 17-year-old had just come from training with his youth team across to the senior squad to replace U19 shot-stopper Marcel Johnen who ended the training session early as a precaution after colliding with Nadiem Amiri.
A successful conclusion to the international break for Edmond Tapsoba: The Leverkusen central defender was on the winning side with Burkina Faso in the 1-0 victory against South Sudan in the Africa Cup qualifiers. The only goal of the game was scored by Aston Villa's Bertrand Traore on 50 minutes. Tapsoba went the full distance again. Burkina Faso were already through to the Africa Cup last week thanks to a goalless draw in Uganda. The win against South Sudan now ensures they finish top of the group.
Tapsoba now returns to Leverkusen and, after the usual coronavirus tests, the 22-year-old will complete his first training session under the new Werkself head coach Hannes Wolf in the event of a negative test.
The Germany U21 team are playing to qualify for the European Championship quarter-finals on Tuesday night. The team under coach Stefan Kuntz won their opening game against Hungary 3-0 and then drew 1-1 with the Netherlands. The Germany team, including Bayer 04 keeper Lennart Grill, have to pick up at least one point against Romania to be sure of finishing as one of the final eight teams. The kick off in Budapest is at 18.00 CEST and the last group match for the Germany U21s will be broadcast on ProSieben.
The knockout rounds of the U21 European Championship will be played from 31 May to 6 June. This will involve the teams finishing first and second in the four qualifying groups.
Patrik Schick is set to play for Czechia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night. The kick off in Cardiff is at 20.45 CEST and it will be broadcast live on the streaming service DAZN.
Schick scored the leveller at 1-1 in the 6-2 opening win against Estonia. The Werkself centre forward missed the 1-1 draw against Belgium last Saturday as his home country and thereby also the venue Prague are currently in a "virus variant area". Czechia lead Group E in the World Cup qualifiers at the moment.
Bad news from Munich: Ivana Rudelic, who joined league leaders FC Bayern in the winter from the Bayer 04 Women, suffered a torn cruciate in her left knee in the away game for the Munich team at MSV Duisburg last Sunday (6-0). Bayer 04 wish her a speedy recovery.
Rudelic played for the Werkself Women in 2018, scoring 14 goals in 49 games before the 29-year-old striker returned to her former club in Munich in January.
30 March has a special significance for Bayer 04: In the media on this day in 1993, the DFB Cup semi-final in the 1992/93 season was seen as the ‘real’ final. Eintracht Frankfurt were at home to the Werkself in a cup clash between two top Bundesliga teams while the other semi-final was between Hertha Berlin Reserves and Chemnitz FC.
Bayer 04 were fully focused from the start at the Waldstadion and took an early lead through Andreas Thom on six minutes. Ulf Kirsten made it 2-0 in the second half (72'), and Thom netted his second goal at 3-0 three minutes later – and Leverkusen were through to the final in Berlin.
The rest of that cup campaign is well known: The Werkself played Hertha Berlin Reserves in the final and, thanks to a goal from Kirsten (77'), won 1-0 to take the DFB Cup back to Leverkusen.
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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