The U19 training group was significantly smaller during the international break. But there are very good reasons for that: A total of eight players were able to show what they could do at first team training and, according to U19 coach Markus von Ahlen, “were able to gain important experience. The feedback was that the lads have done a good job but could have been a little livelier.” For von Ahlen and his fellow coach Patrik Weiser, the promotion of their players resulted in a significantly changed approach to the daily training sessions: “We often only had ten or eleven players in training,” von Ahlen reported. “That means you can work well on an individual basis but, on the other hand, it makes it difficult from the team tactics point of view.”
There is also good news in terms of the injury list. Both Marvin Alexa and Seymour Fünger were able to take part in much of the full training sessions during the international break with Yannick Schlösser and long-term injury Achunike-Elijah Ekene also able to get involved at times. “We hope our incredibly long injury list shortens soon,” said von Ahlen. The coaches will have to manage without the suspended goalkeeper Marcel Johnen with Jakob Brambach again stepping into the breach.
Regardless of their personal situation, Bayer 04 will be looking to register their first home win of the season on Sunday 18 October. With the kick off at 11.00 CEST, the U19s entertain Rot-Weiß Oberhausen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The game will again be played behind closed doors. The opponents have started the season with the maximum six points from their first two games. “Oberhausen have always been a tough opponent in recent years and you have to break them down,” said von Ahlen who says RWO are “very strong up front.” For his team, it is all about, “using space in attacks and improving efficiency both in attack and defence.” The U19s went into the international break on the back of the cup defeat against FC Köln.
The international break for the U17 side lasts a week longer. The team under Jan Hoepner and Tomasz Zdebel have a weekend off in the 17-strong Bundesliga West. The team have a friendly against the TSV Meerbusch U19s on Tuesday 20 October (kick-off: 19.15 CEST) at Kurtekotten.
The other Bayer 04 junior teams also have no competitive games at the weekend. The U8s have a friendly on Saturday 17 October (kick-off: 11.30 CEST) away to the Sportfreunde Königshardt U9s in Oberhausen and the youth teams will play other friendlies during the week.
New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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The Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog, you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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