It was an emotional get-together before the Werkself entered the home straight at the end of the season on Monday. Peter Bosz and his team are back in action on Saturday (15.30 CET, live text commentary and web radio in German at bayer04.de) with Hertha Berlin providing the final challenge of the campaign in Bundesliga season number 56. And against the team from Berlin, it is once again a case of all or nothing for the Black and Reds – Kai Havertz talked about the "most important game of the season" on Tuesday.
It's all about playing in the Champions League next season. Just two goals separate Bayer 04 from fourth place with Borussia Mönchengladbach in that position at the moment. And Eintracht Frankfurt, with one point less than the Werkself and Gladbach lying in sixth place, also are in with a chance – while Wolfsburg are outsiders In the race for a Champions League spot due to their significantly worse goal difference. The fact Gladbach (at home to Borussia Dortmund) and Frankfurt (away to Bayern Munich) are wrapped up in games against the top two clubs gives hope to the Werkself. "We have to win," said Havertz laying down the line and on Saturday the hope is the two potential title winners can lend a hand. "We'll do all we can this week to prepare perfectly for Berlin. And we have to give our all again and then see what happens in the end," said the Werkself top goalscorer who has found the back of the net in each of the last six games.
The last open training session of the season was held on Tuesday morning – all the squad were involved with the exception of Julian Baumgartlinger (rested) plus the long-term injured players Karim Bellarabi, Leon Bailey and Joel Pohjanpalo (all in rehab training) and, at the end of the session, the group made the watching fans happy with selfies and autographs.
After a day off on Wednesday, the last part of preparations for Berlin will be held behind closed doors before the Werkself set off for the capital on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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