Back
4.11.2022Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #B04FCU: 'Coming week is important for our future'

The Werkself entertain Union Berlin on Sunday 6 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET at the BayArena). For the clash with the current league leaders in the Bundesliga, head coach Xabi Alonso is primarily demanding intensity from his team and sees the next eight days with the last three matches before the World Cup break as crucial.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

"Next week is important for our future. We can't afford to think forward to May but we need points and have a responsibility to the club and the fans. We have to play better and be more competitive," said Alonso at the start of today's pre-match press conference. "We don't have much time for training at the moment but we are working hard together every day – above all on basics – to get back on track. We can always improve and I feel the commitment from all the players," revealed the coach.

Alonso sees intensity as crucial in the game against Union Berlin: "We watched the Union game yesterday. It was a typical display by them and they are deservedly top the table," said Alonso as he rates the opponents above all as combative: They have a good team spirit, are strong in challenges and make it difficult for every opponent. That's what we can expect on Sunday."

Alonso: "we need goals to win games"

The Spanish coach is therefore looking for an equally battling and intense performance from his team but also for his players to be prepared to take risks in the opposition half: "We are good in build-up play but we have to defend and at the same half provide better options in the final third in the box, challenge higher up the pitch and thereby create more chances," said the 40-year-old before making a clear statement: "We need goals to win games."

question marks over  Bellarabi and Aránguiz 

A number of players in the Leverkusen squad picked up knocks in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge. The head coach said a decision on whether injured Karim Bellarabi and Charles Aránguiz might return will be made after the final pre-match training session on Saturday 5 November. The Spaniard admitted that it is "still too early" for Florian Wirtz to make his comeback.

Home sections sold out

29,200 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s game including 1,704 to fans from Berlin. The home sections are sold out.

Related News

Rekord: Frauen feiern 14. Saisonsieg in Essen | 24. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 03.05.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 4-0 win at SGS Essen

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.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #B04RBL
Bundesliga - 02.05.2026

Matchday news #B04RBL: All in red for the next top match win

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.

Show more
Garcia und Grimaldo
eSports - 01.05.2026

Bayer 04 represented in Bundesliga Team of the Season again

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.

Show more
Die Bayer 04-Fans in der BayArena
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Derby win followed by top games against Leipzig and Stuttgart: Route for UCL qualification

After matchday 31 and the 2-1 derby win in Cologne, one thing is certain: Bayer 04 will at least compete in the UEFA Europa League in the coming 2026/27 campaign. But the Werkself want more. Looking at the race for Champions League qualification and the remaining three league fixtures, including against direct rivals, bayer04.de outlines the possible scenarios in the season run-in.

Show more
T-Shirt-Verkauf für den guten Zweck mit Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza und Christian Kofane
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Big crowd at shirt sale for a good cause with Tapsoba, Maza and Kofane - last chance at home matchday

This special event showed once again how strong Bayer 04 are as a team: As part of ‘BarmeniaGothaer gives joy’, the Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane supported the sale of individually designed T-shirts for a good cause at the Fanwelt on Thursday. Several hundred fans came to take part in the charity campaign. Leverkusen's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer donated the proceeds to the Fondation Edmond Tapsoba, which helps people in Tapsoba's home country of Burkina Faso in their challenging everyday lives.

Show more