
Head coach Heiko Herrlich had to manage without Julian Brandt, Bernd Leno and Julian Baumgartlinger, who are in the Germany squad tonight, and who are expected to return to Leverkusen tomorrow. The same applies to Leon Bailey who is struggling with an infection at the moment. "Leon is on antibiotics and we'll have to wait and see how he is on Thursday or Friday. If he is sidelined, then we will have another top player in the squad on Saturdays," said Heiko Herrlich, who was unwilling to divulge more details about his squad for the Leipzig game.
As at the start of last week, the Bayer 04 coaching staff again focused on physical work in training – after the Monday training session, Herrlich had his players do two sessions on the following day. While Admir Mehmedi and Panos Retsos completed individual work at the Werkstatt, their team-mates went through a rigorous session on the training ground. There was good news as Joel Pohjanpalo was joined by two returnees Jonathan Tah (back problems) and Benjamin Henrichs (viral infection).
There were just ten Werkself players involved in another intensive session in the afternoon. At the same time, there was no rest for the others – for reasons of controlling the workloads, Tah, Henrichs, Lars Bender, Wendell and Stefan Kießling were busy in the gym.
Another (public) training session is planned for Wednesday before training behind closed doors on Thursday in preparation for the weekend challenge against the second-placed club at the weekend.

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As in the previous away fixture in Rheinhessen, Bayer 04 and Mainz 05 were locked in a thrilling battle on Bundesliga matchday 5. And once again, the Werkself proved to have the greater stamina. The home side equalised the early two-goal lead secured by Robert Andrich (5’) and Patrik Schick (9’) before the half-time whistle, thanks to a brace from Anthony Caci (33’, 42’). Mainz 05 were unable to respond to the two goals from Jarell Quansah (55’) and Moussa Diaby (65’) until late on. Apart from Phillip Tietz’s late consolation goal (90+2’), the Black and Reds barely allowed Mainz any attacking opportunities and were able to clinch the first away win of the season.
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