
You've been hiking today – was it very tiring?
Yurchenko: It was okay but the last stretch was tiring. But it's good for the team – and it was something different for a change.
What's the mood like in the team at the training camp? Yurchenko: We're all a bit tired but that's normal for a training camp. The important thing is the fact we're all having fun because we're together.
We could do with a win against Lazio, couldn't we?
Yurchenko: Yes of course, we've definitely got to win. Lazio are good opponents so we'll need to play well and, above all, score more goals..
Who are your best friends in the team?
Yurchenko: I get on really well with everybody so there aren't any individual players.
04 fan questions - Thanks for joining in.
André Maier(via Facebook): What went through your mind when you scored your first Champions League goal against Monaco?
Yurchenko: It felt great and a dream that had come true. It was a really good night for me.
Gina Adii König (via Facebook): Why have you changed your shirt number?
Yurchenko: My birthday's on 22 January – that's why it's my new number.
Pascal Weinrich (via Facebook): Can you speak good German?
Yurchenko: No. (laughs) I want to but it's not that good as yet. I hope it'll improve.
Leandros Amaadacho (via Facebook): What was the name of your first club?
Yurchenko: I started in football at Mykolaiv, the town where I was born. I played there for six or seven years.

Despite a major personnel shake-up in the summer, RB Leipzig have performed impressively this term. Ahead of matchday 15, coach Ole Werner's team are second in the Bundesliga with a three-point lead over their upcoming opponents Bayer 04. This Saturday, 20 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET), the Werkself are away to RBL who are strong at home. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
This year - for the third time - the parents of the Bayer 04 youth players from the U8 to U15 age groups once again took part in the WDR Christmas Miracle. Under the motto "Goals against hunger in the world - parents in goal!", they organised their own fundraising campaign to once again actively support the important WDR campaign. The sum of €3,420 was handed over at the Glashaus in Essen in the middle of the week during the live programme.
Show more
On Tuesday evening, Bayer 04's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer and its employees welcomed some very special visitors to the company's Christmas market at its headquarters in Wuppertal: Werkself players Robert Andrich, Mark Flekken, Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman spent lots of time with Bayer 04 fans of all ages in the early evening – and also helped to serve drinks such as Glühwein (mulled wine) and delicious food.
Show more
The Leverkusen eSports players picked up just one point on Tuesday 16 December in the remaining three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. As a result, the #B04eSports team once again miss out on going through to the offline knockout phase and now head into the winter break.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has always stood for ambition, development, and progress. In recent years, these values have been reflected not only on the pitch, but beyond it. The Werkself continues to grow — regionally, nationally, and now more than ever internationally — and the recent visit from a delegation of our newest international fan club, Bayer4Arab, is a powerful example of this journey.
Show more