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"We're playing against top opponents in good form," declared head coach Xabi Alonso at the start of the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The 41-year-old knows the strengths of the Leipzig team and warned accordingly of the playing style of the team from Saxony. "Marco Rose (RB Leipzig head coach, ed.) has put together a strong team since he's been at Leipzig and they are pursuing a very convincing way of playing that was impressively demonstrated in the Supercup." In the clash between the champions and the DFB Pokal winners, RB Leipzig beat Bayern Munich 3-0 to secure the first trophy of the 2023/24 season.
The Werkself can go into Saturday's game in confident mood having impressed in the 8-0 DFB Pokal win against FC Teutonia 05 Ottensen. For the league opener, Alonso is calling for a controlled and thoughtful performance from his team: "We want to build a mentality from tomorrow that we can take with us through the season."
In the opening match against the Leipzig team the absentees are Patrik Schick and Sardar Azmoun plus the suspended Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli. Gustavo Puerta, who missed the DFB Pokal tie in Hamburg due to a hand operation, will be back in the squad for Saturday’s game.
On the current euphoric atmosphere at Bayer 04 Alonso declared: "We feel the anticipation from the fans for the new season and we are equally excited about tomorrow and all the games ahead. There's an outstanding mood and energy at the moment – on every level."
In relation to the premature celebrations that Bayer 04 are receiving from many sides at the moment, the Spanish coach warned against an overeager performance and remarked: "We haven't got started yet. We are not naïve. Time will show where we stand. We will need the support of the fans in every match going forwards. The fans are expecting a good performance – and that's what we want to produce."
The anticipation for the start of the league campaign is reflected in the attendance figures: All the home sections for the Bundesliga opener against RB Leipzig have been sold out.
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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