Back
27.11.2018Bayer 04

Herrlich announces rotation for home game against Ludogorets

Bayer 04 are already through to the knock-out rounds so now it is all about winning the group. In Thursday's final home fixture in the Europa League group stage the Werkself entertain the Bulgarian champions Ludogorets (18.55 CET). Heiko Herrlich's team are looking to hold all the cards as leaders of Group A ahead of the final away game in Larnaca (13 December).
20181127_training_CK6P3761.jpg

"We said from the start we wanted to finish top of the group. Nothing's changed in that respect," said Heiko Herrlich after the Tuesday morning training session as he clearly set out the target for Thursday. Nevertheless, the Werkself head coach will use the confirmed progress to the Round of 32 to give some of the players with less match time under their belts the  opportunity to play against Ludogorets and "show what they can do and stake a claim for a place in the team."

The two Bender brothers missed full training in the first session of the week on Monday and instead completed individual sessions in the gym at the BayArena and Aleksandar Dragovic plus Jakub Bednarczyk trained on their own on a neighbouring pitch. Long-term injury Pohjanpalo (rehab training) and Tin Jedvaj (muscular problems) missed the Tuesday training session. A decision on the availability of the Croat for Thursday will be made after tomorrow's final pre-match training session.

The next and, at the same time, final open training session of the week will be held on Friday at 11.00 CET.

Related News

Jeanuel Belocian
Bayer 04 - 02.02.2026

Jeanuel Belocian joins Wolfsburg on loan

Bayer 04 have agreed a loan deal for Jeanuel Belocian to join fellow Bundesliga club Wolfsburg on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old defender’s contract in Leverkusen runs until 30 June 2029.

Show more
Inklusionswerkself
Business - 02.02.2026

SAB-P GmbH become Bayer 04’s first inclusion partner

SAB-P GmbH is to become Bayer 04 Leverkusen's first official inclusion partner. The company, which has previously been involved in the club's Business Club, is underlining its social commitment to inclusion with an agreement that runs until 31 May 2027. Among other things, it will be the shirt sponsor of the Inclusion Team from the 2026/27 season onwards.

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.02.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s February highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.

Show more
Effiziente Werkself hält Eintracht auf Abstand | 20. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 31.01.2026

TV highlights of 3-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 3-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 20 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Show more
Werkself beim Torjubel
Bundesliga - 31.01.2026

Clinical Werkself keep Eintracht Frankfurt at bay with 3-1 win

Thanks to a 3-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 have secured their third win in a row in their last three games. The impressive conversion of chances gave Bayer 04 a 2-0 lead at half-time on Bundesliga matchday 20 with goals cored by Arthur (26) and Malik Tillman (33). After Eintracht pulled a goal back scored by Robin Koch (50'), the Black and Reds bravely withstood Frankfurt's attacks before Aleix Garcia scored in stoppage time (90+3’) for the Werkself, who had a man extra after Ellyes Skhiri's was shown a second yellow card (70').

Show more