Jonathan Tah has played every minute of the Bundesliga season to date. No question that the 25-year-old has developed into the undisputed boss of the defence since the start of the season. In last Saturday's second half of the season opener against Union Berlin the Black and Reds number four did not put a foot wrong again in defence and he secured a deserved point for the Werkself with his powerful headed goal on 84 minutes for the final scoreline of 2-2. In our eyes, he fully deserves his place in the football journal kicker German international players Team of the Matchday. Congratulations Jona.
Sky commentator Marcus Lindemann was back on the microphone. The 56-year-old commentated on the clash between the Werkself and Union – it was his first appearance after a long time out. Lindemann gave the reason for his absence over the last weeks and months the day before the match. In an operation, a facial nerve "came out in sympathy" and that led to the right side of his face being paralysed. Lindemann is however hopeful that the situation is temporary. Welcome back.
One day after the clash with the Irons, the first team players in the starting line-up had a recovery session while the other players came together for normal training on pitch one. There was no training on Monday with preparations for matchday 19 beginning tomorrow on Tuesday: The team under head coach Gerardo Seoane are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 15 January. The kick-off against the team placed twelfth in the Bundesliga at Borussia Park is at 18.30 CET.
Edmond Tapsoba will not be available for the clash with the Foals. The Werkself central defender is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sunday night saw Burkina Faso start the tournament with a 2-1 defeat against hosts Cameroon – without Tapsoba. The 22-year-old was not in the squad for the West African side. The next match in Group A is set for Thursday, 13 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET). That game is against Cape Verde. The final match of the group stage for Burkina Faso is against Ethiopia on Monday, 17 January (kick-off: 17.00 CET).
Tapsoba’s Bayer 04 teammate Odilon Kossounou is also at the African tournament with the Ivory Coast. The summer signing starts the tournament with his national team on Wednesday, 12 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET) against Equatorial Guinea. The Ivorians in Group B also face Sierra Leone (16 January) and Algeria (20 January). All matches in the Africa Cup of Nations are being broadcast on the streaming service DAZN.
Not a new signing but a new name nevertheless in the Bayer 04 Women's squad: Goalkeeper Frederike Abt married recently and is now called Friederike Repohl. The 27-year-old joined Leverkusen from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer. Congratulations on your marriage, Rike.
The new calendar year for the Bayer 04 eSports players starts with an extra special clash: Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ de Cae and Co. have a rearranged fixture on Monday night in the VBL Club Championship against FC Köln. The derby on matchday 11 in December was postponed.
The Werkself eSports players are currently seventh in the VBL CC and the rivals from Cologne are two places behind with three points less. The match kicks off at 18.00 and the rearranged fixture will be broadcast as usual on the Bayer 04 club Twitch channel.
Eastern Germany's most successful talk show celebrated an anniversary last Friday night – the MDR production of Riverboat had its 30th anniversary. Leverkusen sporting managing director Rudi Völler was one of many VIP guests. In an extensive interview with comedian Matze Knoop, the 61-year-old talked about his first matches as a football player in the German Democratic Republic and what he spent his first wages on back then.
The whole broadcast of the anniversary Riverboat – Talk show is available HERE. The interview with Völler starts at 1 minute 47.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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Video games developer Electronic Arts (EA), in collaboration with the Bundesliga, has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga ‘Player of the Month’ award for September – Bayer 04’s Miguel Gutiérrez has made it into this select group after just four Bundesliga matches. Fans of the Black and Reds can vote from now until Sunday 27 September (23:59 CEST).
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Calling all Werkself fans: Even during the three-week international break – a first for September and October – you have the chance to visit the BayArena – and for a very special occasion. Bayer 04 is hosting a Health Day on Saturday 3 October, from 10:00 to 14:00 CEST in the Premium Lounge. Together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, the Bundesliga club invites you to an interactive, free event centred on the theme of health. Partners will be present on site with their own exciting activities. Here is an overview of the programme of events.
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