he Germany players are involved in the start of the European qualifiers for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia. Germany coach Joachim Löw has called up five Leverkusen players so that Bayer 04 and FC Bayern are providing the most players for the DFB squad. Julian Brandt, Kevin Volland, Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah plus newcomer Benjamin Henrichs are hopeful of playing against San Marino. The match in the small stadium in Serravalle on Friday kicks off at 20.45 CET.
More matches follow at the weekend: Chicharito and Mexico face a prestigious encounter in Ohio with the neighbours USA under coach Jürgen Klinsmann. Ömer Toprak and Hakan Calhanoglu are in line to play for Turkey against Kosovo at the same time that Tin Jedvaj and Croatia face Iceland, the surprise package of Euro 2016. The final match on Saturday sees Austria with captain Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic and keeper Ramazan Özcan, who takes over in goal from the injured first choice Robert Almer, play Ireland. Admir Mehmedi is an action with Switzerland on Sunday against the Faroe Islands.
Private audience with the Pope
Robbie Kruse has been a regular choice for the Socceroos for years. Austria play Thailand on Tuesday 15 November and an interesting match in the Asiatic World Cup qualifiers. That evening, Germany play a friendly against Italy at the legendary Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan. Before that, the Leverkusen quintet and the other players in the Germany squad have a unique appointment: Jogi Löw and his players have a private audience with Pope Francis in Rome.
The final fixtures of the international break involving Bayer 04 players will are in America. Chicharito and Mexico play Panama a week on Wednesday, Charles Aránguiz and Chile face Colombia and then Uruguay.
International fixtures involving Bayer 04 players:
Thursday, 10.11., 21.30 CET: Colombia v Chile (Aránguiz)
Friday., 11.11., 20.45 CET: San Marino v Germany (Volland, Brandt, Leno, Tah, Henrichs)
Saturday., 12.11., 1.45 CET: USA v Mexico (Chicharito)
Saturday., 12.11., 18.00 CET: Turkey v Kosovo (Toprak, Calhanoglu)
Saturday., 12.11., 18.00 CET: Croatia v Island (Jedvaj)
Saturday., 12.11., 20.45 CET: Austria v Ireland (Baumgartlinger, Özcan, Dragovic)
Sunday., 13.11., 18.00 CET: Switzerland v Faroe Islands (Mehmedi)
Tuesday., 15.11., 13.00 CET: Thailand v Australia (Kruse)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Italy v Germany (Volland, Brandt, Leno, Tah, Henrichs)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Northern Ireland v Croatia (Jedvaj)
Tuesday., 15.11., 20.45 CET: Austria v Slovakia (Baumgartlinger, Özcan, Dragovic)
Wednesday., 16.11., 0.30 CET: Chile v Uruguay (Aránguiz)
Wednesday., 16.11., 3.05 CET: Panama v Mexico (Chicharito)
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
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Bayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
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The Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
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Xabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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