After a strenuous and intensive week of training, the pros started work early on the final day in Austria. After breakfast, there was a pre-match routine at the team hotel ahead of the game against Mecca. After that, it is was a case of enjoying the remaining free time, packing bags and a last lunch at the team hotel Tauern Spa and then onto the bus, that took the Werkself to Grödig.
Before the Bayer 04 group could start the journey home, there was one final challenge. In a repeat of last year, the Herrlich team played their sixth friendly of the pre-season in Grödig near Salzburg in the afternoon. And it was against one of the oldest clubs in Saudi Arabia: Al-Wahda Mecca. With Fernando Carro, Rudi Völler, sporting director Jonas Boldt and former Bayer 04 player Ramalho looking on, the Werkself produced a battling performance in spite of the rigours of recent days and high temperatures once again; they earned a close but deserved 1-0 victory.
Straight after showering and a light evening meal in the dressing room at the Goldberg Stadium, it was onto the team bus for the short trip to Salzburg Airport. The plane took off at 19.30 CET on course for Cologne/Bonn. After landing at 20.40 CET it was time for the players, coaches and staff to be reunited with their families. And that was the end of the final chapter of the 2018 training camp in Austria. Monday is a day off and Tuesday will see the returning World Cup runner-up Tin Jedvaj and new signing Paulinho complete performance test – Heiko Herrlich's team will return to the training ground at the BayArena on Wednesday (8 August) .
The fourth European away trip of the season in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 takes the Werkself to the Greek capital. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team are away to Greek double winners Olympiacos on matchday seven in the UCL league phase. The match at the Karaiskakis Stadium is on Tuesday, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET). We'll be taking you on a trip to Athens and reporting on the Werkself close-up...
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A great honour for Bayer 04 Women's German international: as part of the 2025 Sports Awards, Carlotta Wamser entered her name into the City of Leverkusen's Golden Book. On Tuesday, she looked back on a special year in a talk in the Morsbroich Castle hall of mirrors.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed a loan deal with Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach for Argentinian striker Alejo Sarco. The 20-year-old joins Mönchengladbach with immediate effect for the rest of the season.
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The Werkself are away to Greek double winners Olympiacos on matchday 7 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. Tonight, 20 January (kick-off: 22:00 local time/21:00 CET), Bayer 04 will not only face a familiar face in Panagiotis Retsos, but also an experienced and successful team in their Greek top-flight opponents. The Olympiacos midfield and forward line in particular are peppered with seasoned veterans from top European clubs - but even they will first have to find solutions against the Werkself defence that has recently performed with aplomb in the UCL. The matchday news.
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The Werkself are away to Greek double winners Olympiacos on matchday 7 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about anticipation for the game. Werkself player Ibrahim Maza also gave an insight into dealing with the recent setbacks.
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