
Coach Heiko Herrlich was able to welcome back Wendell. The 24-year-old full-back, who has worked on his comeback in individual training over recent days following the ligament injury suffered away to RB Leipzig, took part in full training for the first time – at least for the first part. "We are increasing the workload day by day but the Bremen game is probably too soon for him," said Herrlich who hopes Wendell will be an option for the final game of the season at home to Hannover 96 (12 May). Karim Bellarabi joined the session later after working on his own in the Werkstatt. According to Herrlich, it was purely a precautionary measure.
Jonathan Tah (hip), Joel Pohjanpalo (rehab training after an ankle injury) and Sven Bender (muscular problem) worked in the facilities at the BayArena rather than on the training ground. "With Sven, we'll have to see how his muscle reacts and whether he may be an option for Saturday," explained the 46-year-old after the training session.
Heiko Herrlich will lead training sessions on Thursday (15.30 CET) and Friday (12.00 CET) before the Werkself head off for Bremen. The two sessions will be closed to the public.


The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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