
With team-mate Wendell looking on, the Werkself number 20 went the full distance in midfield against Ecuador in the second group match in Salvador and once again he came up with the goods as in the first group match against Japan (4-0): The 30-year-old took the corner for the opening goal from José Fuenzalida (CSD Colo-Colo) and he laid on the winner at 2-1 for Alexis Sánches (Manchester United) with a cross from the right. The victory sees Chile hold on to top spot in Group C and they are through to the quarter-finals ahead of the last group match against Uruguay early on Tuesday (25 June, 01.00 CET).
Leon Bailey and his Jamaican team-mates also remain unbeaten at the Gold Cup (15 June to 7 July in the USA, Costa Rica and Jamaica) – the Reggae Boyz could only manage a goalless draw against second-placed El Salvador but they remain top of Group C ahead of their final group match thanks to a better goal difference. In an evenly balanced encounter, with Jamaica having the better chances, Bailey played the full 90 minutes on the right wing. The 0-0 draw gives Jamaica the chance to go through to the quarter-finals of the competition in the game against the one-points worse off Curaçao in third place on Wednesday (26 June, 02.00 CET).
The Bayer 04 youth player Marc Lamti starts the Africa Cup (21 June to 19 July) on Monday (19.00 CET) with the competition held in Egypt this year. The Eagles of Carthage play 2006 World Cup participants Angola in the first match in Group E.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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Werkself TV shows highlights of the 3-0 win against FC Villarreal on matchday 8 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...
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The Champions League journey continues! On the eighth and final matchday of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, Bayer 04 secured their place in the play-offs with a commanding 3-0 win over Villarreal. Malik Tillman put in a mature and combative performance for Leverkusen, scoring a brace (12', 35') to make it 2-0 at the break, while Alejandro Grimaldo (57') and plenty of control of the game did the rest in the second half. The draw for the Werkself's next UCL opponents will take place on Friday 30 January at 12:00 CET.
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