Bayer 04 will be without the services of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky longer than expected in the pre-season. In the operation to remove a wisdom tooth on Friday, the Finn also had to have a cyst removed from his jaw. The unscheduled operation was a success although it does involve a significantly longer recovery period due to the work on the jaw. Hradecky is expected to return to training in three to five weeks.
"We have a very strong set of goalkeepers and we will be able to make up for the loss and we have great confidence in Ramazan Özcan and Thorsten Kirschbaum," said head coach Heiko Herrlich, who only received the bad news at the BayArena following the afternoon training session. "I'm most sorry for Lukas who joined us full of ambition and now has to watch from the sidelines," added Herrlich. "But he is in the best hands with our medical section and the coaches and the players will do all they can to support Lukas. He will be given time to recover completely."
A group of journalists representing Latin American and Spanish-language media outlets visited the BayArena on Thursday for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bayer 04 and interviews with key personnel that have driven the team’s brand to new heights internationally over the last few years.
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The start of the new season of the VBL Club Championship by WOW produced two wins and one defeat for Leverkusen, including a victory against SC Paderborn 07, semi-finalists last season and double winners in 2023/24. The Leverkusen gamers were beaten by 1. FSV Mainz 05, runners-up in the South-East Division last year.
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Eleven days after the floodlight failure, the Bayer 04 Women rescued a point in the rescheduled Bundesliga derby at 1. FC Köln thanks to a late dream goal from Katharina Piljic. The Werkself drew 2-2 at the Franz Kremer Stadion on Thursday evening. Vanessa Fudalla (76') from the penalty spot and Piljic with a shot from the centre circle (88') gave the Black and Reds a late reprieve. Leverkusen, who are now been unbeaten against their Rhineland neighbours for almost four years, remain fourth in the table with the draw following five consecutive wins.
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The date for the Bayer 04 Women's DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie has been set. As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday, the Leverkusen Women will play league rivals Hamburger SV on Sunday, 16 November at 15:00 CET.
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