
Lars Bender joins his twin brother Sven (Borussia Dortmund) and SC Freiburg’s Nils Petersen as one of three players over the age of 23. Julian Brandt, who just failed to make the final squad for Euro 2016, is an almost certain first choice in the Germany line-up. “Neither of us are getting any younger so it’s great to be playing together in a big tournament like that. It’s a brilliant story for us because you only normally only get a chance like that once as a player,” said Lars Bender commenting on being selected along with his twin brother Sven. The pair won the Under-19 European Championships in 2008.
Germany’s group matches in Rio are against Mexico (4 August), South Korea (7 August) and Fiji (10 August). The Germany Olympic squad have a three-day training camp in Frankfurt from 28 July before setting off for Brazil on 30 July.
It is clearly not an ideal situation for Roger Schmidt to be without Bender and Brandt in the run-up to the new season. However, it is not an insurmountable issue for the Werkself head coach. “Of course, Lars is our captain but it is probably his final opportunity to take part in an event like that. Lars knows how we play inside out so it won’t be a problem for either of us. The tournament will be good for Julian. And both will be back for the start of the Bundesliga ,” added Schmidt.
Schreier and Hörster lead the way
The last German goalscorer at the Olympic Games was a Bayer 04 player. Christian Schreier netted the third goal in a 3-0 win against Italy in the third-place play-off in Seoul in 1988. Thomas Hörster and Schreier, the two Werkself pros, returned from South Korea with bronze medals. Bender and Brandt are now in the hunt for medals.


Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 at TSG Hoffenheim on the 3rd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Starting with the 2026/27 season, Bayer 04 has created a permanent memorial space at the BayArena. In the upper section of Block A in the southeast corner of the stadium, Werkself fans can honour friends and family members with whom they have shared many special moments connected to Bayer 04. In the coming months, this space will be gradually expanded, in particular with the active support of the fans.
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Bayer 04 has secured a new premium partner in DXC Technology, a leading provider of enterprise technology and innovation. The club has agreed a partnership with DXC running until 30 June 2028. At the heart of the partnership is DXC’s role as an AI integration partner. The company is integrating Bayer 04’s previously separate digital systems into a unified fan journey that begins long before matchday and extends well beyond the stadium visit. As a partner of the women’s team and main sponsor of #B04eSports, DXC will be supporting two promising sections of the club during this period. DXC will also gain significant visibility as the sleeve partner of the women’s team in the DFB Pokal.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.
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“Welcome home” was the message from a visually emotional fan in the direction of Moussa Diaby after Wednesday’s open training session. The French winger had just appeared on the BayArena training ground for the first time in three years following his return to Bayer 04. And before he took time for selfies and autographs, Diaby spoke to the media. Fellow new arrival Guéla Doué was also in action but not with the team for now.
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