In Group A, there is a clash between Leverkusen teammates: Piero Hincapie with Ecuador and Jeremie Frimpong with the Netherlands face each other on matchday 2 (25 November, 17.00 CET). Frimpong on his World Cup call-up: "I'm very happy about being called up. It's a dream for every player to be at a World Cup. Now it's come true for me." The other teams in the group are Qatar, who Hincapie and Co. face in the opening match on 20 November, and Senegal.
The Black and Reds are also represented in Group B: Iran with Bayer 04 striker Sardar Azmoun play England in their first game on 21 November. That is followed four days later by the group match against Wales and Iran finish the group stage with the clash with the USA on 29 November.
Another Werkself player is battling to progress to the knockout rounds with his fellow countrymen in Group C: Exequiel Palacios, along with the seven-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, is in the Argentina squad. The Leverkusen midfielder and the Albiceleste play Saudi Arabia (22 November), Mexico (26 November) and Poland (30 November).
Florian Wirtz is not at the World Cup. The 19-year-old midfielder has been out of action since the middle of March due to a torn cruciate and has recently returned to full training with the Werkself. Germany coach Hansi Flick spoke about Wirtz at the press conference presenting the Germany World Cup squad on Thursday: "There's no question we would have been glad to have a player with the quality of Florian Wirtz. But he's been out for a long time with a serious injury and is now just coming back into full training. The most important thing for him is to get back on the pitch fit and well and then give his all again in January."
Wirtz travelled to St. Louis with his Leverkusen teammates on Sunday 13 November for the #Bayer04USATour. The tour includes a friendly against St. Louis CITY Soccer Club on Wednesday 16 November.
World Cup group games involving Bayer 04 players:
Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)
Senegal vs Netherlands (Monday, 21 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Ecuador (Friday, 25 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Qatar (Tuesday, 29 November, 16.00 CET)
Piero Hincapie (Ecuador):
Qatar vs Ecuador (Sunday, 20 November, 17.00 CET)
Netherlands vs Ecuador (Friday, 25 November, 17.00 CET)
Ecuador vs Senegal (Tuesday, 29 November, 16.00 CET)
Sardar Azmoun (Iran):
England vs Iran (Monday, 21 November, 14.00 CET)
Wales vs Iran (Friday, 25 November, 11.00 CET)
Iran vs USA (Tuesday, 29 November, 20.00 CET)
Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Tuesday, 22. November, 11.00 CET)
Argentina vs Mexico (Saturday, 26 November, 20.00 CET)
Poland vs Argentina (Wednesday, 30 November, 20.00 CET)
A number of countries who have not qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar are involved in friendlies in November. That includes Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland who play North Macedonia on 17 November and Norway three days later.
Morocco's capital Marrakesh is the venue for two Leverkusen defenders playing each other: Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso meet the Ivory Coast on 19 November. Amine Adli is on the road with the France U21 squad and they play Norway in Caen on 19 November.
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
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Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
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