At the morning session on Tuesday, Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt and Co. we're back on the training ground. Karim Bellarabi and Sven Bender, who went off injured on Saturday, were missing. The pair will be rested for the forthcoming Europa League home game against FC Zürich on Thursday (21.00 CET) as Heiko Herrlich revealed after the training session: "It makes no sense taking a risk with Karim and Sven. I believe there's a good chance both will be fit for Sunday (League game at Leipzig - ed.), but we not going to commit hara-kiri," said the Werkself head coach. in any case, he announced his desire to rotate against the Swiss Cup winners. There is a final pre-match training session at the BayArena tomorrow night ahead of the game against Zürich. The next open session is planned for Friday at midday (subject to change).
Kai Havertz is indisputably one of the most promising talents in German football. At the age of 19, the Werkself number 29 already has made over 50 Bundesliga appearances (64 games, 10 goals and 17 assists) – more than anybody else at that age. His performances have been recognised with the award of the Fritz Walter Medal in gold for this year's best German youth player. Now he has the chance of a second big award this year: Since Monday, Havertz is in the running for sports personality of the year in North Rhine Westphalia (football category). Up to 3 December, it is possible to vote for the 19-year-old, who made his debut for the Germany U19 team at the start of September, at www.nrw-sportlerdesjahres.de. Moreover: There are six athletes from TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the running for the FELIX Award in Gina Lückenkemper (female athlete category and team category), Konstanze Klosterhalfen (female athlete category), Mateusz Przybylko (male athlete category), Markus Rehm, Felix Streng und Johannes Floors (all in disabled sport category). Good luck to everybody!
Ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga game against 1899 Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 referee section collected over 50 referee shirts, shorts and socks plus other equipment for a good cause: The DFB referee Naemi Breier has voluntarily been collecting money and donations for various projects for world hunger relief to support activities in Africa in particular. Most recently it was in Rwanda where she supported the construction and modernisation of a primary school. Bayer 04 Bundesliga referee Laura Duske and Rahel Glombek, head of the referee section at the Werkself, became aware of this unique project and set about organising support. The great donation was handed over during half-time at the Bundesliga game by Jörg Kappenhagen (head of fans, memberships and community affairs).
In Germany, the temperatures are currently around zero, leaving even professional footballers freezing - but not the Bayer 04 Women. Roberto Pätzold's team have fled the cold to the south and are preparing for the second half of the season at a training camp in the Algarve, almost 2,000 kilometres away from home as the crow flies. The Leverkusen squad landed in Faro on Saturday morning and have already completed the first three training sessions over the weekend.
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It was a disappointing Saturday night. The Werkself lost 4-1 to VfB Stuttgart to start the new year on Bundesliga matchday 16 in 2025/26, a result that left both players and fans disappointed. "We played without any passion," said Alejandro Grimaldo honestly afterwards. Teammate Jarell Quansah was even more self-critical, emphasising: "We were miles off it in the first half. You can't put in a performance like that, especially in front of our own fans and I can only apologise to them, to be honest." Read on for the reaction, facts and stats from the clash with VfB Stuttgart in the Werkself review.
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Women’s team forward Paulina Bartz is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play for Hamburg SV until the end of the season. The 20-year-old, whose contract runs to 2027, joins the Bundesliga newcomers on loan until the summer.
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Jarell Quansah and Alejandro Grimaldo speak to Werkself-TV following Bayer 04's 4-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart on Bundesliga Matchday 16...
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