Back
27.02.2019Bundesliga

Retsos returns for run-in to Freiburg game

After the narrow and unlucky 3-2 defeat at league leaders Borussia Dortmund, Peter Bosz gave his players two days off. The Werkself squad has just completed seven games in 23 days – and also experienced an emotional roller coaster: While the Black and Reds have celebrated convincing wins in the league against Bayern, Mainz and Düsseldorf, they also went out of the DFB Cup and the Europa League.
crop_20190217_Training_Retsos.jpg

Now the Werkself can focus completely on the Bundesliga campaign: The Bosz charges have eleven games left this season including electrifying encounters with direct rivals for a European finish from Hoffenheim (29 March, 20.30 CET), Leipzig (6 April, 15.30 CET) and Frankfurt (3 to 6 May, to be confirmed). There are 33 points up for grabs – and, ideally, Peter Bosz would like to take the complete haul as he declared after the Dortmund game. Saturday sees the start with a home game against FC Freiburg kicking off at 15.30 CET.

Trio missing on Wednesday

Wednesday morning saw the start of preparations for the game against  the team lying thirteenth in the table who are currently unbeaten in four games. In a 90-Minute session in springlike sunshine, the focus was on passing, moves, finishing and ended with a practice match. The werkself skipper Lars Bender was again able to train with the team, as he did on Friday, after recovering from a hamstring injury. Karim Bellarabi (hamstring) and Lucas Alario (rested) completed individual workouts in the facilities at the BayArena along with Joel Pohjanpalo who is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

And there was positive news for Panos Retsos. The 20-year-old Greek returned to training alongside his team-mates in a 60-minute session on a neighbouring pitch. That means he could soon return to full training.

Related News

Werkself beim Torjubel
Bundesliga - 08.11.2026

Werkself win 2-1 in Cologne to claim sixth straight derby win

There were celebrations among those in black and red at the RheinEnergieSTADION. On Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, the Werkself beat 1. FC Köln 2-0 and registered their sixth successive win in the derby. Aleix Garcia put Bayer 04 in front after just seven minutes with a direct free kick. Leverkusen played with discipline and energy after that and didn't allow some fierce challenges to unsettle them. Patrik Schick made it 2-0 in the 86th minute, and Said El Mala's goal in stoppage time for Köln proved nothing more than consolation. Jonas Hofmann crowned the derby win with his 100th appearance for the club.

Show more
crop_20260425_FS_KOEB04_250046.jpg
Bundesliga - 08.11.2026

Matchday News: Werkself out to continue derby run

Bayer 04 have won each of their last five competitive encounters with 1. FC Köln, and it's around seven years since their last defeat in the cathedral city. That said, the hosts are in strong form at home and will make it anything but easy for the Werkself at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 15:30 CET). The Matchday News.

Show more
Women: TV-highlights of 2-0 win against Hamburger SV
Werkself-TV - 07.11.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 2-0 win against Hamburger SV

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 2-0 win against Hamburger SV on Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.

Show more
1. FC Köln
Bundesliga - 07.11.2026

Our next opponents: Köln defensively solid and with more attacking options again

1. FC Köln host Bayer 04 on Sunday 8 November (kick-off 15:30 CET) in the 75th Bundesliga derby between the Rhineland neighbours. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more