"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.
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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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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