
Leno looked focused and assured over the full 90 minutes in the 4-1 win and he was not at fault with the goal scored for the hosts by Dimitri Nazarov. It was Leno’s fourth cap for Germany. Julian Brandt, who played against England in Wednesday’s friendly, did not get the chance to make his sixth international appearance in Baku. Germany are well on course to qualify for next summer’s World Cup with a perfect record in the group to date.
Switzerland, with Admir Mehmedi in their ranks, have also picked up maximum points so far. The 26-year-old earned his 50th cap for Switzerland against Latvia and he provided the assist with a fine cross for the only goal of the game scored by former Leverkusen, and now Gladbach, striker Josip Drmic.
Kevin Kampl was the last Werkself player to appear over the weekend in Slovenia’s game against Scotland at Hampden Park. Kampl was substituted on 87 minutes just before Chris Martin scored the winner for Scots. Slovenia are third in Group F on eight points with England on top with 13 points.
Julian Baumgartlinger returned early from international duty on Sunday night. The Austria skipper is suffering with a toe injury ruling him out of Tuesday’s qualifier against Finland.


Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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