Our number 11 made 39 appearances for the Werkself last season and the Ludwigshafen-born player was directly involved in 14 goals. After five full international appearances for Germany in Euro qualifiers and international friendlies, the 2017 U21 European Champion is set to play in the Olympic football tournament in Japan. As one of the three players allowed to be over 23 years old, Nadiem Amiri will assume a leadership role in the DFB squad.
The Germany Olympic squad under U21 national coach Stefan Kuntz play the title holders Brazil (kick-off: 13.30 CEST) in the group stage on 22 July, a day before the official opening of the Olympic Games. Saudi Arabia are the next opponents three days later (kick-off: 13.30 CEST). Germany's last match in the race for a quarter-final slot is on 28 July against the Ivory Coast (kick-off: 10.00 CEST) in the final group game.
In addition to Amiri, another Werkself player is included in his country's Olympic team. There will be a head-to-head in Group D when Germany with Amiri face Brazil with Bayer 04 offensive player Paulinho.
To date the men's and women's footballers at Bayer 04 have collected a complete set of medals. In the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul (South Korea), Thomas Hörster and Christian Schreier on bronze for Germany. In 2016 there was silver for Lars Bender and Julian Brandt and Sven Bender within the team under coach Horst Hrubesch for the defeat in the final. Annike Krahn was a winner that year. The Bayer 04 defender was in the Germany team under coach Silvia Neid that beat Sweden 2-1 in the final. Krahn ended her international career after that and a year later hung up her boots at club level.
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
Show more
For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
Show more
European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
Show more
The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
Show more
