"Normal weeks present the opportunity to structure training better and to take your time for certain things,” Gerardo Seoane explained to the media representatives in relation to the current and following week of training (Click HERE for the key statements from the press conference).
Daley Sinkgraven has returned to the training ground and worked with the ball. The Dutchman suffered a groin injury two weeks ago. In spite of progress made, as Seoane explained, he will however "not be ready" for the top match against Borussia Dortmund (6 February).
Julian Baumgartlinger continues to work hard on making his comeback. The 34-year-old midfielder, sidelined by a cruciate injury, played his last match at the end of August last year. Baumgartlinger is making good progress but patience is required for his return as Seoane explained.
The Werkself have two training sessions on Thursday and Friday with Lukas Hradecky and Co. being able to switch off from football at the weekend – the international break means there are no Bundesliga fixtures at the weekend and Gerardo Seoane has given his players time off.
The situation is rather different at the moment for Werkself player Odilon Kossounou. The central defender is in action with the Ivory Coast on Wednesday evening in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations. The record winners of the tournament Egypt provide the opposition in Douala (kick-off: 17.00 CET). The Ivorians will face Morocco if they progress to the quarter-finals.
Kossounou's teammate Edmond Tapsoba is already one step ahead with Burkina Faso: The West Africans beat Gabon 2-1 in the Round of 16 and now play Tunisia on Saturday 29 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET). All matches in the Africa Cup of Nations are being shown live on the streaming service DAZN.
It's official: The 2021 'Sporting photo of the Year’ was taken in Leverkusen. At the 52nd presentation of award by the football magazine kicker and the Association of German Sports journalists (VDS), Mika Volkmann finished in top spot with his photo.
On the photo entitled 'Stars close-up', the Paralympics winner Johannes Floors is seen with a youth athlete. The snapshot was taken last September at the Parasport TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen Talent Days at the club's indoor athletics facility. Congratulations on the award.
The German Football League (DFL) plus the 36 clubs in the two Bundesliga divisions have set up an online platform for community and social engagement in German professional football. At bundesliga-wirkt.dfl.de, information is available together for the first time on projects and activities of the Bundesliga and second division clubs plus the DFL in the areas of exercise and health, education and opportunities, ecology and environmental protection, solidarity and cooperation as well as diversity and togetherness.
Bayer 04 send out birthday greetings to another birthday boy on this Wednesday: The former defender Manfred Vetter, at the Black and Reds from 1971 to 1975, his 71 years old. Many happy returns.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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