Heiko Herrlich had 15 outfield players available for the last open training session of the week – That included four U 17 players Adrian Stanilewicz, Ismail Devici, Max Schneider and Herdi Bukusu. Kai Havertz and Panagiotis Retsos were also back in training – as they were on Monday – and Julian Baumgartlinger also completed parts of the session. After recovering from a torn cruciate in his knee, the Austrian was able to complete individual work and was also able to take part in a warm-up and in positional play with his team-mates on the pitch. "That was a small step in the right direction for him today," said the Bayer 04 head coach. The plan is for 'Baumi' to rejoin full training next week.
Continuing knee problems for Charles Aránguiz had held him back but now he is making progress in rehab. The Werkself number 20 did half an hour's work with the ball on a neighbouring pitch before continuing his fitness programme in the gym at the BayArena.
Ahead of the Hanover game, the Werkself have two more full training sessions – the two sessions tomorrow and on Friday are closed to the public.
Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
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Like last year, Bayer 04 Women held their summer training camp in Rieden. Coach Roberto Pätzold gives his assessment of the time in the Upper Palatinate, discusses the integration of the 11 new players and the unusual team building measures, gives his thoughts on the friendly and looks ahead to the start of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga season in August.
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Just in time for the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Werkself will hold another open training session on Tuesday 21 July. The session at the BayArena is scheduled to start at 11:00 CEST and will again be available to watch in a live stream. The fans who are there can look forward to a very special surprise.
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Bayer 04 turned in a dominant performance in a 7-0 win against fifth-tier side Sportfreunde Baumberg in their first friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. A brace from debutant Afonso Moreira (19', 27') either side of a Christian Kofane strike (23') put the Werkself 3-0 up in the first of the two 35-minute halves in Monheim am Rhein. After the break, Victor Boniface (49', 53'), Robert Andrich (56') and Nathan Tella (67') scored for the completely changed Leverkusen team. It was therefore a successful friendly debut for new head coach Carles Martínez and his team, although the hosts also had something to celebrate despite the defeat: the match marked the inauguration of Baumberg's new ground, the MEGA Stadion.
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