With the Bayer 04 head coach recently being forced to keep changing his starting eleven, the boss have received a boost ahead of the crucial decider for a Champions League spot as three key players return to training. In the home game against Hannover 96 on Saturday, the Werkself will probably only be missing Kevin Volland (one-match ban) and Joel Pohjanpalo (rehab after ankle injury). Lars and Sven Bender, rested due to muscular problems recently, were able to complete the whole training session on Wednesday but Jonathan Tah, in his first full session since his hip injury, went back to the changing room half an hour earlier than the others as a precautionary measure.
The training session on Wednesday was not only the final open session ahead of the almost completely sold out Hannover game but also the last open session before the summer break and the last open session for Stefan Kießling with his career at Leverkusen coming to an end after 12 years on Saturday. After the session was over, he undoubtedly had the longest way back to the changing rooms as he patiently fulfilled all signature and selfie requests from the fans at the training ground.
From Thursday, the Werkself have two further training sessions behind closed doors ahead of the decisive and final game of the season.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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