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.
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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The next footballing highlight is just around the corner: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico and feature 48 teams for the first time. Bayer04.de has all the latest on the Werkself players called up to represent their countries.
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While the majority of the Bayer 04 Women are enjoying their summer break, nine Werkself players will be on duty for their national teams in the coming days. Three of them are competing for a place at the World Cup, while six are involved in two friendlies with the Germany U23 team.
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