Ahead of the toughest session of the week, most of the pros were in the players lounge at 07.15 CET. Lars Bender and Co. usually arrive for breakfast at the BayArena around 08.45 CET but getting up early was on the agenda today. The reason: Due to temperatures above 30 degrees, the coaching staff decided to bring forward the session to nine in the morning.
The Werkself players still put in a shift and were sweating and not just because of the temperatures. Peter Bosz constantly drove his players on and they had to finish the session with a tournament on small pitches. Again and again tackles, shots and intensive sprints. Even the goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was exhausted after the final whistle was blown by the head coach. "I can hardly speak," said the 29-year-old who did manage to find his voice again when he spoke to the representatives of the media where he covered the areas where the Werkself need to keep working in spite of three successive wins for starters: "I want to have another clean sheet at long last. I don't like conceding goals at all."
One player who often was successful in achieving that missed the session on Tuesday. Jonathan Tah reported sick on Monday. The Werkself number four was better today but only able to complete an individual session on the ergometer in the Werkstatt. However, the medical department are confident that the Germany international will be able to rejoin his team-mates at the closed training session on Thursday.
Lucas Alario, who was present today, received very good news yesterday. After a break of two years, the Argentinian has been called up for his national side again (three caps, one goal). Alongside stars like Paulo Dybala and Nicolas Otamendi, the 26-year-old will be in the squad for the forthcoming friendlies in the USA against Chile (6 September) and Mexico (10 September). "Being called up again came as a bit of a surprise. Nevertheless, I'm obviously proud to have the chance to play for my country," said Alario as he thanked the national coach Lionel Scaloni, "for giving me this chance. It's great motivation for me to continue working hard on my game. I will enjoy the moment and definitely use the chance I now have."
The call-up also pleases head coach Peter Bosz: "I've got to know him as a lad who always does his job and has never complained to me: 'Coach, why aren't I playing?' Or: 'I've scored three goals. Why can't I play from the start again?' A lot of players do that. And that's okay. But he works and battles."
Before Saturday's Bundesliga fixture, all eyes at Leverkusen will be on Monaco on Thursday evening. The group stage for the UEFA Champions League will be drawn from 18.00 CET. While a delegation led by Fernando Carro, the chairman of the board, will be at the event in the Grimaldi Forum, Lukas Hradecky will be watching it on television. "I've waited 30 years for it," joked the 29-year-old who is set to play in Europe's premier club competition for the first time. "To hear the anthem at last, and play against the best clubs in Europe: That's always been on my bucket list." And the Finland keeper also has a wish regarding his first away tie. "Even when I was a small child I dreamed of playing at the Camp Nou." The home of Barcelona – Bayer 04 have played the Spanish side eight times in the Champions League. There is certainly room for improvement there with just one win and one draw so far.
A special award for special social commitment. At this year's ceremony for the Sepp Herberger Awards in Wolfsburg on Monday night, the DFB Sepp Herberger Foundation recognised Bayer 04 in the social rehabilitation category. The Bundesliga club received the prize, together with €12,000, for its great service to inmates, particularly in the Wuppertal-Ronsdorf prison.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss at VfL Wolfsburg on the 20th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Werkself suffered another setback in the tight race for third place in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Roberto Pätzold's side lost 2-1 at VfL Wolfsburg in a hard-fought contest on Sunday evening, with Vanessa Fudalla's goal in stoppage time proving too little too late. Leverkusen have dropped to sixth in the table with 31 points, four off third place.
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The Bundesliga home game against VfL Wolfsburg in the first half of the season was one of those classic ‘days to forget’ for Bayer 04 Women. It started with goalkeeper Charlotte Voll being shown a red card in the first minute of the game, and following a further sending-off, coach Roberto Pätzold's 9-women side ended up losing 5-1 to last season's runners-up. At 18.30 CET on Sunday, they'll have the chance to exact revenge at the AOK Stadium - and pick up valuable points in the race for third place.
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After full time in the 1-1 draw against FC Bayern Munich, the Bayer 04 fans first had to catch their breath. Firstly because of their usual loud support, and secondly because of the great drama they'd witnessed on the pitch: three disallowed goals, two red cards and a Werkself side who "again produced a very good performance against strong opponents", as head coach Kasper Hjulmand described. The Dane was particularly enthused by the performance of young Montrell Culbreath, while Patrik Schick got to enjoy his 200th appearance under the Cross. The Werkself Review unpacks the action.
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