Karim Bellarabi and Wendell have agreed new long-term contracts at Bayer 04.
“We’re happy to finally get started again and we’re particularly happy that we were able to convince Wendell and Karim Bellarabi that it is the right decision to make a long-term commitment to Bayer 04,” said Rudi Völler in opening the press conference broadcast live on bayer04.de.
Ahead of the top match, head coach Roger Schmidt was very optimistic about the prevailing mood in the team: “This a very, very good sign for the club and for our group. We go into this match in very good shape. It will be an exciting game.”
Schmidt sees Gladbach as a very strong opponent: “Like us, they have a have a solid squad that is constantly strengthened.” From a tactical perspective Schmidt is primarily expecting a lot of turnover moments: “Both teams want to use winning possession to hurt the opposition. Gladbach are really very good at that - but so are we. Gladbach have intelligent, quick players up front. We’re prepared for that and we have to be tactically on our guard and react accordingly.”
Chicharito (broken hand), Stefan Kießling (back in full training) and Lars Bender are all ruled out. Julian Brandt could be back. Schmidt: “Julian Brandt is on top form. If he doesn’t say, ‘it’s not on, I’ve hardly slept a wink’ then we’ll take him with us.”
Ticket update
Bayer 04 will have the support of 2,600 fans at Gladbach. The away ticket office (at Borussia Park) still has seats available for Block 7 (€40.50). The office opens on the matchday 2 ½ hours before kick-off.
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
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