It won't be an easy game for Leverkusen: The record champions from Bavaria are riding a wave of success since the change of coaches from Niko Kovac to Hansi Flick: The men from Munich have won all of their last four games under the new coach – with a goal difference of 16 to 0. "They have a lot of momentum at the moment," said Bayer 04 coach Peter Bosz at the pre-match press conference before adding: "That makes the game very interesting for us. We want to get a result in Munich and I think that's possible." To achieve that, his players have to perform as a team and each individual "produce his best level".
Bosz will not be able to call on long-term absentees Mitchell Weiser and Joel Pohjanpalo and it remains to be seen whether Daley Sinkgraven and Kai Havertz will be in the squad. Both took part in full training on Thursday. "We'll see today how they've dealt with yesterday’s session and what happens in the final pre-match training. Then we'll decide who we take to Munich," said the Werkself coach.
One key question ahead of the game: Who can stop Bayern's in-form striker Robert Lewandowski? Bayer 04 defender Sven Bender knows how the Poland international plays from their time together at Borussia Dortmund (2010 – 14). Tomorrow's opponents played together for four seasons at BVB. "It could be an advantage as he knows Lewandowski very well. Of course, he's carried on developing since then. But he's not a completely new player," said Bosz who is looking to stop the Bayern central striker "as a team".
During the press conference, the Werkself coach spoke about possible transfers. According to reports in the media, the Argentinian Exequiel Palacios is set to be a new signing for the Werkself. Bosz: "It's almost December and this subject starts again. It's the first question of that type I've been asked and in the coming months there will be lots of questions about lots of players. I can only say: Good players are always welcome here."
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
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