The Swiss coach is "confident" regarding the clash with the Foals who beat FC Bayern 2-1 in their last outing. The 43-year-old boss has been encouraged by training this week. "The team were very focused and self-critical in dealing with the match against Union Berlin (2-2, ed.)," explained Gerardo Seoane at Friday's pre-match press conference. "The players responded accordingly in training."
Nadiem Amiri has returned at the end of the week. The 25-year-old is fit and healthy after recovering from a Covid-19 infection. "Nadiem made a good impression," said Seoane. "So, he is available for the match."
Asked about media speculation of Amiri moving on, Seoane said: "It's January and the transfer window is open. Speculation is part and parcel of that. There is something to it but there's also an additional element from the media. That doesn't really interest me the day before a game. He's back with us and we're happy about that."
The following players are unavailable for the match against Borussia Mönchengladbach due to injury: Julian Baumgartlinger, Charles Aránguiz and Daley Sinkgraven. In addition, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, goalkeeper Niklas Lomb and Paulinho are still in self-isolation.
The Werkself have now gone four Bundesliga matches without a win. However, that has not created uncertainty in Gerardo Seoane's team as the Swiss coach emphasised: "We are highly motivated and focused on our jobs."
After five league matches without a win, the twelfth-placed team from Mönchengladbach started 2022 with a victory away to the record champions from Munich. In that game, Adi Hütter's team demonstrated their "dynamism and power but also their quality on the pitch. But I'm convinced that we will be able to play our own game and find the right answers."

Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
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Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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With the 2026/27 season set to kick off with a DFB Pokal tie away to SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 22 August, 13:00 CEST), the squad numbers for two Werkself players have now been confirmed. New signing Afonso Moreira will wear the number 9, which he has already worn in pre-season friendlies. Lucas Vázquez is switching from number 21 to number 17 – the number he wore successfully at Real Madrid for many years.
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Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
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