Head coach Tayfun Korkut said his Werkself had a "good week of training" with Julian Brandt, Ömer Toprak and Jonathan Tah set to return to full training. "The team have accepted the challenge. We are ready, and in positive mood, to put our plans into action in the derby," declared Korkut who was also happy at being able to welcome back Vladlen Yurchenko during the week. "The medical section has done great work and we're trying to get all returnees back into full training and do all we can to have as many players as possible available for selection."
With reference to the opponents FC Köln, Korkut said he had "exactly the same amount of respect as for all opponents in the Bundesliga." Korkut added: "FC are a very solid group who defend as one and are quick to play on the break. And then they also have Anthony Modeste who's enjoying a great year. It's a matter of controlling it all."
Korkut is very much looking forward to the derby. "Emotions are important and crucial for a derby. But it's also about keeping a clear head, to start the game in control and end it in the same way. The team knows what they've got to do. If we show our quality on the pitch then we'll get a result. It's a great challenge for us all. We feel a positive pressure to get on top of all these factors.
First part of final training session open to fans
Ahead of the 60th Bundesliga derby between Black and Reds and Red and Whites, Bayer 04 are mobilising all possible forces to secure top-flight status with a win against FC Köln. That's why Bayer 04 supporters have an opportunity to show their backing for the team at 15.30 CET on Friday. Tayfun Korkut and his fellow coaches have decided to make the first part of the final pre-match training session in the afternoon open to the public. After that the Bayer 04 pros will complete the second part of their session behind closed doors.
The #finallyRED campaign is calling for supporters to turn the home areas at the BayArena into a sea of deep red on Saturday to show the commitment of the Werkself faithful for the important game against FC Köln. On Saturday at 13.30 CET there will also be a ‘motivational guard of honour’ from the fan pub Stadioneck to the motorway bridge along Bismarckstraße to give the players a boost as they arrive at the stadium.
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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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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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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