"Not many opponents have taken an attacking approach against us this season. But when you play top teams like Gladbach or Dortmund and both teams want to win then it will be an open and attractive game. And I'm expecting one like that against Leipzig on Saturday," said the Dutchman. His expectation is also supported by the stats: The team from Saxony have the best home record in the Bundesliga this season going into matchday 19 with 22 points from nine games – the Werkself have 17 points from nine away games (like Stuttgart) and are only surpassed by league leaders FC Bayern (19 from nine). So strength at home meets strength on the road.
Both teams are currently on course to qualify for the Champions League but the pressure from below is growing ever stronger as Bosz recognises. "A number of teams are fighting for a place in the top four this season. But the most important thing is that we pick up points ourselves. We have to try and get on a good run and win our games. Clocking up points – that's the most important thing."
Against Leipzig, who Bosz believes have better positional play this season compared with recent years, the 57-year-old has to cope with the absence of several players. In addition to the long-term injured Julian Baumgartlinger, who this week underwent a successful cruciate operation, Santiago Arias and Paulinho, Mitchell Weiser and Sven Bender are also sidelined. Nadiem Amiri is not an option due to his Covid-19 infection nor is new signing Jeremie Frimpong, who is currently in self-isolation following his arrival in Germany. And Lars Bender is not yet available – "he hasn't trained with the team as yet and will not be in the squad for the game against Leipzig,"
In contrast, Exequiel Palacios has made further progress in full training over the last two weeks . The coach was unwilling to say whether he would be ready for the weekend. "We have to observe him day by day and also wait for the final training session."
In spite of the number of players sidelined – Bosz does not want to complain about the situation. "If I look round then I can see that other clubs have more players missing," he said. This was on the cards due to the crowded fixture lists in a short space of time and the coronavirus pandemic. "It's extreme but we have to deal with it. And up to now we've done well compensating for the absent players. Therefore, I'm assuming we'll also be able to do that against Leipzig."
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...
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