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 second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
Show more
Continuity under the Cross: After the successful season in 2024/25 with reaching the final of the VBL Club Championship, the two Leverkusen e-sports players Marc and Sean Landwehr have extended their contracts at Bayer 04 by an additional two years. Marc is thereby in his sixth year and Sean in his third year with the Werkself. Together with e-talent Marcus Hüttemann, who has also extended his stay at Bayer 04 Bayer year, completes the current squad for the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed centre forward Christian Kofane. The 18-year-old Cameroonian joins Leverkusen from Spanish second tier club Albacete on a contract to 30 June 2029.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will wear the new away kit for the 2025/26 season at the start of the training camp in Brazil. In conscious contrast to the international aspect of this year's training camp in Rio de Janeiro, kit supplier New Balance has designed a jersey for the Werkself players and all other Bayer 04 teams with distinct links to home.
Show more
