Journalists and camera teams plus fans in Bayer 04 shirts were waiting in numbers at the entrance for the team led by head coach Gerardo Seoane. Brian the Lion was again on hand. After getting changed, Jonathan Tah and Co. went out onto the pitch.
The mood during the relaxed routines of keepie-uppies and rondos before the start of training could not have been better and birthday boy Sadik Fofana (many happy returns on number 19) plus Ayman Aourir from the U19 squad were involved as well; 16 outfield players and 04 goalkeepers worked up a sweat against the backdrop of a 30-metre high rock face at the UNAM Pumas academy. The rondo was obviously followed by a traditional birthday guard of honour for Fofana.
The good mood on the pitch was definitely helped by a short and unexpected shower from the sprinkler system, as the training session before the friendly against Deportivo Toluca was held with the temperature at 25 degrees in blazing sunshine under a clear blue sky.
During the 60-minute session, fans took plenty of photos of the players on the pitch - and of Brian the Lion off it. The end of the training session saw the arrival of the UNAM Pumas mascot - a puma in the kit of the Mexican top-flight team and he warmly welcomed Brian to ‘his’ patch.
The work-out was followed by numerous interviews with Mexican and American journalists - primarily with the South American Werkself players. Argentina international Lucas Alario said: “It feels special to be back here in South America. We’re close to our home country here. We’re enjoying the time here very much.”
For Lukas Hradecky and Co., after taking plenty of time out for photos with the fans, it was back to the team hotel for lunch. While the team were given the rest of the day off, Gerardo Seoane had the pre-match press conference ahead of the friendly against Toluca in the afternoon.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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