While the Bayer 04 players who appeared at the Benteler Arena were gradually able to dedicate themselves to getting a well-deserved night’s sleep, Paulinho was just getting going. In the early hours of Monday, the Leverkusen player was on the pitch with his Brazil U23 team-mates at 02.30 CET. In the Colombian city of Quindío, the Selecao youngsters played the Peru U23s in the South American qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics (from 24 July in Tokyo, Japan).
The 19-year-old Werkself player produced an impressive display – and he scored the only goal of the game to secure victory in the opening match. After 43 minutes, the midfielder netted the winner from a tight angle. In contrast, RB Leipzig’s Matheus Cunha missed out. The top scorer in the current Olympic squad with nine goals in eleven games complained of feeling unwell in the night before the game. Augsburg’s Iago did not feature either.
The ten South American U23 teams are split up into two groups. After the group stage, the two best teams play each other up to 9 February for two places at the Tokyo games. Brazil’s next group opponents on Thursday 23 January (kick-off: 2.30 CET) are Uruguay who also won 1-0 in their opening game against Paraguay.
Kevin Volland scored one more than Paulinho in the game against SC Paderborn. With the fastest double of his career (11 & 14 minutes) the Bayer 04 striker set up the first win in 2020. The BILD Zeitung named the 27-year-old in their team of the week for his impressive performance against the team from East Westphalia. No other Werkself players were included in the top eleven.
Thanks to the win at Paderborn, the Peter Bosz team are back in sixth place in the table. A look at the away form table is even better from a Werkself perspective: Bayer 04 are second with 18 points after nine games on the road. Only league leaders RB Leipzig are better off with an additional two points. The Werkself have the chance to work on their home form next Sunday(26 January). Fortuna Düsseldorf are the visitors with the game kicking off at 18.00 CET.
‘Calli’ on the mike! The longstanding football official, general manager and CEO of Bayer 04, Reiner Calmund is the guest tonight on the ‘Kicker meets DAZN’ podcast. The Bundesliga stalwart will be talking with the presenters Benni Zander and Alex Schlüter about the winter transfer window. The interview will be available at kicker.de and on all the usual platforms.
In addition: Any fans of podcasts might well enjoy the Werkself podcast. Former Bayer 04 players like Falko Götz and Ulf Kirsten plus current players like Sven Bender and Jonathan Tah discuss a range of issues relating to the club under the Bayer Cross.
The Ivory Coast international Odilon Kossounou has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to top-flight Italian club Atalanta. The Champions League participants from Lombardy took up the option to buy the 1.91 metre central defender who went out on loan to Atalanta at the start of the 2024/25 season.
Show moreCalling all Werkself fans: The new Farbenstadt range is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt. This includes new T-shirts made of 100% organic cotton, zip-up hoodies and jogging bottoms in five different summer colours.
Show moreBayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser has been called up to the Germany squad for the Women's EURO 2025 finals in Switzerland. For the 21-year-old winger, who is set to join Bayer 04 from Eintracht Frankfurt for next season, it is the first participation in a big international tournament.
Show moreWelcome to Leverkusen, Axel Tape! Bayer 04 have signed the 17-year-old defensive player on a free transfer from Champions League winners and French league and cup winners Paris Saint-Germain. The French U18 international has agreed a long-term contract at Leverkusen. Bayer 04 introduces the new arrival.
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