News in brief: Werkself start build-up to top match

The international break is gradually drawing to a close as the Bundesliga comes back into view. On Sunday, 17 October (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) the BayArena is the venue for the top match between Bayer 04 and Bayern Munich. The Werkself started training this week on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the clash with the record champions without 14 players away on international duty who are set to return to the squad over the course of the week.

Head coach Gerardo Seoane and his fellow coaches welcomed 13 outfield players and three goalkeepers to the training ground. Timothy Fosu-Mensah completed an individual session with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin. For the rest of the Werkself players, the warm-up routine was followed by a range of drills.

Dates, numbers, Facts on #B04FCB

The game between Bayer 04 and Bayern Munich is the first time in the current Bundesliga campaign that there's been a top match between the teams in first and second place. Both sides have 16 points with Bayern ahead on goal difference (+17) from the Seoane team (+13).

Talking about 16 points: With that number of points from seven games, the Werkself have made the best start to the Bundesliga in eight years – Bayer 04 have only had more points at that stage in their Bundesliga history in 2009/10 (17) and 2013/14 (18). In addition, the Black and Reds have never scored as many goals in the first seven games Bundesliga as in 2021/22 (20 goals).

Fan flea market for a good cause

In between life-size cardboard cut-outs of Kevin Volland there were hundreds of Black and Red fans as well as a range of Bayer 04 training kit around the BayArena for five hours on Saturday. "On the one hand, we can make the fans happy and on the other hand we are supporting the Leverkusen Community Foundation and thereby helping people from our city who have had to and still have to struggle with the flooding disaster," said Frank Linde from the Bayer 04 fan liaison section.

After their recovery session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the Bundesliga Women called in on the flea market and joined in with around 1,500 visitors. The event raised over €25,000. A very successful morning and all for a good cause.

Wirtz nominated for the Kopa Trophy 

Bayer 04 youngster Florian Wirtz is amongst the nominees for the Kopa Trophy 2021. With this award, France Football is again choosing the best players in the world under 21 years of age. Ten nominees were announced on Friday afternoon. From the Bundesliga, in addition to Wirtz, that includes Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jude Bellingham and Giovanni Reyna (both Borussia Dortmund). The winner of the Kopa Trophy 2021 will be announced on 29 November at the gala evening for the Ballon d'Or 2021 in Paris.

The other nominees are Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (FC Arsenal), Pedri (FC Barcelona), Jeremy Doku (Stade Rennes), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax) and Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain).

Schick is a dad again

Congratulations, Patrik Schick. The Werkself striker is a father for the second time. His wife Hana gave birth to their son Nico last Wednesday. Their daughter Victoria now has a little brother. Welcome to the Bayer 04 family, Nico.

Palacios strike voted 'goal of the month'

You have decided: Exequiel Palacios is your goalscorer of the month for September. The 23-year-old midfielder scored the equaliser in the Europa League opener for Bayer 04 against Ferencváros (2-1). And here's how it happened: Jeremie Frimpong pulled the ball back from the byline into the middle for Pala to control the ball and hammer it into the top corner – a very impressive strike that fully deserves to be the Goal of the Month for September, presented by our partner like2drive.