Set pieces were the focus of the last session in Saalfelden. Head coach Xabi Alonso also put in a few free kicks and crosses into the penalty area. That was followed by a range of passing drills and moves as well as work on maintaining possession. Then came the end of the first training camp for Bayer 04 in Saalfelden.
Head coach Xabi Alonso shared his assessment of the training camp after the session: "We achieved most things we set out to do this week. We've trained a lot here and next week will be different with three games one after the other.”
The Spaniard and his team are travelling on to San Sebastian for a friendly in a good cause (see below) away to Spanish Champions League side Real Sociedad to be played tomorrow Saturday. For Alonso it is a return to his hometown. The Bayer 04 head coach was emotional ahead of his return: "A year ago I was working there as a coach. I have a very close connection to the city, my hometown and to the club where I had a season ticket since I was six years old. I will meet up with a lot of people again and lots of players who I trained last year. I'm really looking forward to it."
Alonso said the following about the opponents Real Sociedad: "They are a really strong team. They didn't qualify for the Champions League last season for no reason and they also won the Spanish Cup in 2020. But, of course, we want to produce a good performance and we also want to win."
The following players are in the squad for the friendly against Real Sociedad: Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, Odilon Kossounou, Jonas Hofmann, Nadiem Amiri, Edmond Tapsoba, Arthur, Noah Mbamba, Alejandro Grimaldo, Amine Adli, Victor Boniface, Adam Hlozek, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Exequiel Palacios, Florian Wirtz, Patrick Pentz, Jeremie Frimpong, Gustavo Puerta, Granit Xhaka, Niklas Lomb and Ayman Aourir. The following youth team players Jesper Schlich, Madi Monamay and Matija Marsenic are also with the group. And U19 defender U19 Reno Münz is joining the squad from Leverkusen.
Robert Andrich, Patrik Schick and Kerem Demirbay (due to a slight knock) plus youth players Oleksandr Petrenko and Anton Bäuerle are heading back to Germany. Sardar Azmoun left the training camp at the start of the week due to a muscle injury in his left calf.
The charity match at Real Sociedad kicks off at 18.00 CEST tomorrow Saturday at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian. The match is being played in aid of the Fundación Columbus. Their mission is to raise funds for research into rare diseases and find treatments for these diseases through gene therapy. For head coach Xabi Alonso the journey to San Sebastian is also return to his hometown.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Germany U19 international Luca Erlein from Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old right-back, who is capable of playing in various defensive positions, has penned a contract until 30 June 2030.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has a new coffee partner. The club has agreed a long-term partnership with the Bocholt-based roastery Imping, running to 30 June 2031. The exclusive partnership with the family-run business includes the installation of fully automatic coffee machines at the BayArena, as well as the right to supply and serve coffee products in the business areas during Werkself home games.
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