No usual warm-up routine
There was plenty to do in the morning. Instead of the usual warm-up routine, the coaching staff carried on where they left off the day before: With a tough training session. The Werkself players went through a range of moves at high tempo for over 75 minutes. As in the days before, the ambition of every player was evident in terms of going to the limit and helping to encourage their team-mates.
Group photo on the pitch
After the session there was the chance for the numerous Werkself fans to have their picture taken in a group photo. That was a thank you from Bayer 04 for their loyalty. Some 50 fans happily accepted the offer of a photo with their heroes. The players then took time out to sign autographs before returning to the team hotel. The time between lunch and departure for the ground was used for an afternoon sleep or relaxation.
The running option
After the training session, Heiko Herrlich and assistant coach Lars Kornetka thought of running rather than going on the coach. While other members of the Bayer 04 group took the 15-minute journey back to the team HQ on the bus, Herrlich and Kornetka opted to run back.
Friendly against Antalyaspor
In the evening the Herrlich team took on Turkish first division side Antalyaspor in a friendly with Cameroon international and former Barca star Samuel Eto'o in their squad. In spite of the exertions of recent days, the Werkself produced an impressive performance but were unable to crown that with a win. The match ended 1-1. During half-time, Karim Bellarabi called in to see Bayer 04 TV. The striker is currently suffering with muscle problems and is training on his own. In a Facebook live interview he spoke to commentator Niko Hartmann about his current state of fitness.
Christian Nerlinger pays a visit
The Werkself received another visit from a VIP in the football business on the fourth day: Former pro Christian Nerlinger, who now works as an agent for Jonathan Tah, called into the Bayer 04 team hotel where he took time for conversations with friends and acquaintances. And, of course, with his charge Jonathan Tah.
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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No points in the Kraichgau: the Werkself lost 1-0 away to top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga Matchday 18. Wouter Burger scored the only goal with a free kick in the ninth minute. In an uneventful contest, the Werkself tried hard to find an equaliser but were repeatedly thwarted.
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The meeting between fifth and sixth on Saturday afternoon (17 January, 15:30 CET) is a hard one to predict. While the Werkself can take confidence from their historic record at TSG Hoffenheim, the hosts are currently enjoying their second-best Bundesliga campaign and have lost just one of their last 10 games. Another good omen for Bayer 04: Daniel Schlager also refereed Leverkusen's last victory in Sinsheim (4-1). The Matchday News.
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At the end of the winter training camp in Portugal, the Bayer 04 Women convincingly mastered their friendly ahead of the start of the second half of the season. In the match against Swiss league leaders Servette FCCF, coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 3-0 at the Monte Gordo Sports Complex. Carlotta Wamser (4’), Vanessa Fudalla (18’) and Loreen Bender (53’) scored for Bayer 04, who have been preparing for the Rückrunde in the Algarve since last Saturday.
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The German Football League (DFL) has rescheduled the postponed fixture at Hamburger SV on Bundesliga matchday 17. The match, due to be played on Tuesday, has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, 4 March (kick-off: 20:30 CET).
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