New signing Odilon Kossounou took part in the first training session of the new week. For the 20-year-old central defender, signed by the Werkself from Belgian champions Club Brugge a few days ago, it was his first chance to show what he could do to his new teammates.
In high-tempo training under head coach Gerardo Seoane the Ivory Coast international joined Patrik Schick on the pitch. After playing at Euro 2020 with the Czech Republic, it was also his first session of the pre-season with the Werkself. The centre-forward starts preparation for the new campaign with plenty of confidence: He scored five goals in five matches at the European Championship finals.
Charles Aránguiz is also back in Leverkusen. Our number 20 played for Chile in the Copa America. The champion of 2015 and 2016 went out at the quarter-final stage against Brazil and the 32 year-old then went on a three-week holiday. Now he's back in the Rhineland and he trained on his own on Monday.
In addition to the two training sessions, the Werkself had the first of two in-house media days on Monday. On level two of the BayArena and the TV studios next to the Mixed Zone there were autograph card and portrait photo sessions as well as filming for different social media formats from early morning into the evening. On day one it was the turn of Seoane and his fellow coaches plus staff with the majority of the players following on Tuesday.
Werkself player Nadiem Amiri is currently away with Germany at the Olympic Games in Japan – and he put Germany ahead in the second group match. The 24-year-old opened the scoring against Saudi Arabia after just eleven minutes. There was end-to-end action after that and the Saudi team twice drew level with Germany. However, the team under coach Stefan Kuntz came out on top in the end: Augsburg's Felix Uduokhai rounded off the scoring at 3-2 on 75 minutes.
Germany lost 4-2 in their first game against Brazil despite a goal from Amiri but progress to the quarter-finals is in their hands. On the final matchday in Group D, victory is required against the Ivory Coast to progress to the knockout rounds. The game in Miyagi on Wednesday, 28 July, kicks off at 10.00 CEST.
Paulinho’s Brazil also played their second group match. The South American team could only manage a goalless draw against the Ivory Coast. Bayer 04 player Paulinho came on as a substitute on 79 minutes. The leaders in Group D also have their next game on Wednesday, 28 July, at 10.00 CEST. The Selecao just need another draw to progress to the last eight.
As in 2017 (final) and 2019 (semi-final), Jamaica again lost out in the Gold Cup, the North and Central American equivalent of the European Championship, this year in the USA. The team with the Werkself player Leon Bailey, who did not appear in this match, lost 1-0 to the hosts in the quarter-finals. The semi-finals see the USA play the next World Cup hosts Qatar while holders and record winners Mexico face Canada.
The Bayer 04 Veterans team beat the SV Preußen Merchweiler Old Boys 9-1 (4-0). The match in the Saarland was played in front of 500 spectators at the Merchweiler ground following on from the soccer camp of former Werkself player Mike Rietpietsch. The Bayer 04 goals were scored by Sebastian Schoof (3), Philipp Wollscheid, Jörg Reeb (2 each), Mike Rietpietsch and Peter Gemein. More important than events on the pitch at the current time is overcoming the flooding disaster in many parts of Germany. Part of the receipts from the match in Merchweiler will go to people affected in the flooded areas.
The next game for the Veterans is in a similar vein. They are in action on Tuesday night, 27 July, in Neitersen in the Rhineland Palatinate. The benefit match against Wiedbachtaler Sportfreunde Neitersen kicks off at 18.00 CEST at the ‘Auf der Emma’ sports ground. The Werkself team includes Hanno Balitsch, Falko Götz, Jens Nowotny and Thorsten Judt. The former Werkself keeper Ramazan ‘Rambo’ Özcan will also make his first appearance for the Veterans. A number of other Black and Reds such as honorary captains Ulf Kirsten and Rüdiger Vollborn plus coach Gerd Kentschke will also be there.
The oldest of the Bayer 04 youth teams have also returned. As part of the pre-season, the U19 squad completed a one-hour yoga session. But it was run by Dagmar Meiss of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In future, yoga will be a regular and set part of the training plans of the U19 head coach Sven Hübscher.
Former Werkself player Paul ‘Slawo’ Freier celebrates his 42nd birthday today (Monday). The former midfielder played for Bayer 04 from 2004 to 2008, clocking up 148 appearances in Black and Red. The Pole scored 18 goals and provided 30 assists. Freier spent most of his career at VfL Bochum and today he is the coach of the U17 team at SV Lippstadt 08 . Many happy returns and continuing great success.
Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…
Show more
Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.
Show more
Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
Show more
A first for the Werkself: Today, Thursday 15 October (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), Bayer 04 face Lech Poznan for the first time on matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League group. Although the Black and Reds have a flawless record against the only Polish opposition faced before, they must not underestimate the attacking ability and goal-scoring threat of the reigning champions from Poznan. Lech’s squad also includes two former Bundesliga players. Today's matchday news.
Show more
Nathan Tella spoke to Werkself-TV ahead of Bayer 04's first Europa League away game of 2026/27 at Lech Poznan about his fond memories of the competition, his expectations of the match and his excitement about the atmosphere in Poland...
Show more
