Werkself fans can follow the Bundesliga match against the Foals live on free TV: Sky is broadcasting the Saturday multi-match programme free-to-air on Sky Sport News HD. The individual matches are pay-per-view. In addition, Werkself Radio will be reporting the action on the pitch; bayer04.de will provide live text commentary on the website as usual.
From 15.00 CET, you can join us in the build-up to the match at the Schwadbud. In the two and a half hour show, we have some exciting interviews, look at current issues and the we will hand over to Dirk Maverick who will sing the anthem before the game. Then Cedric and Niko from Werkself Radio will take over. All that is available on the Bayer 04 YouTube channel. Switch on and join in to enjoy a Black and Red Bundesliga afternoon with ‘Spieltag – Die Show’.
All teams in Bundesliga 1 and 2 will hold a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off on matchday 27 to remember the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, all the teams will wear black arm bands. “The spread of coronavirus has already claimed a lot of lives worldwide. German professional football will come together on the next two matchdays to express their condolence,” said DFL CEO Christian Seifert.
In Monday’s restart in Bremen, the Werkself carried on where they left off before the season was suspended. With the 4-1 win, the team under head coach Peter Bosz extended their terrific record in the second half of the season – 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat – and the Werkself have already clocked up a club record 22 points in the second half of a Bundesliga season. And the Werkself only scored 26 goals in the first 9 games in the second half of the season once before back in 1999/2000.
Rudi Völler, sporting managing director Bayer 04, wants the Bundesliga 2020/21 season to be played in front of spectators again. “I hope, like many others – even if it’s still a bit early –, that a few spectators might be allowed next season,” said the 60-year-old to the ZDF Morgenmagazin programme. Perhaps the stadiums might not be full. Everything depends on now the coronavirus develops.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Völler is above all expecting the players to have “a sensible basic discipline.” The players have to be ready, “to make sacrifices.”
Two Werkself players have made it into the ‘FIFA Team of the season so far’! Lukas Hradecky achieved a 91 rating, Kai Havertz a 94 in ninth place in the best Bundesliga players in the TOTSSF. Both cards are immediately available on at FIFA Ultimate 20.
A 1988 UEFA Cup winner, a Barcelona player and the 2008 Player of the Year in Switzerland today celebrate their birthdays. The former Werkself star striker Bum-kun Cha is 67. He played for Bayer 04 Leverkusen from 1983 to 1989 scoring 62 goals in 214 appearances. The Chile international Arturo Vidal is now 33 years old. Vidal played for Bayer 04 from 2007 to 2011 and netted 21 times in 144 appearances. He is now a defensive midfield player at Barcelona. Also a year older at the age of 35 is Tranquillo Barnetta, who wore the Black and Red shirt from 2004 to 2012. The midfielder scored 26 times in 229 games. Bayer 04 wishes all the birthday boys: Happy birthday!
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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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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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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