The Black and Reds started the official run-in to the 2024/25 season on Sunday 14 July with performance checks. At the start of the week, Xabi Alonso led the first training session in warm weather with half of his squad – including new signings Aleix Garcia, Jeanuël Belocian and Andrea Natali.
Players not available were the European champion Alejandro Grimaldo and Copa América winner Exequiel Palacios plus the others involved in the European Championship and Copa América finals. These Werkself players are currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday after involvement in those tournaments. Alonso extended the training group by including several youth players including Francis Onyeka, Ken Izekor, Kerim Alajbegovic.
In a 90-minute session, Alonso demanded high intensity and maximum concentration. A warm-up routine and stretching were followed by reaction drills. Then came a pass and moving game – first in restricted space then on half the pitch. Alonso ended the first training session with a practice match.
Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes shared his views at the first training session ahead of the 2024/25 campaign: "I'm really looking forward to getting going again. Last season was wonderful without a doubt. But a new season always brings a new attraction. We will have new challenges and new opportunities. We have a good team and obviously want to be part of the top group in the Bundesliga.
On European champion Grimaldo and Copa América winner Palacios, Rolfes said: "I'm really happy with the wins for Alejandro and Exequiel. I've sent a short message to both of them after they won their individual titles. I'm very happy that we now have a European champion, a Copa América and World Cup winner at Bayer 04 and in the also an AFCON winner in Odi (Odilon Kossounou, ed.). That's a great development."
A highlight for the Bayer 04 fans came after the rigorous first training session: Selfies and group photos with the players as well as autographs on shirts, shorts and more. A group of children spontaneously sang a birthday greeting to Jonas Hofmann who was 32 on Sunday.
Hofmann also shared his views on the start of the pre-season after the training session: "I've enjoyed the summer and was really able to switch off. On holiday a lot of people congratulated me for the success of last season. Moments like that made me realise what we have actually achieved. We now have a big challenge ahead of us and are able to see that it was a unique and exceptional season. It will be difficult to top that." Hofmann added with confidence: "The bar is set high. We want to make a good start to the season. We'll only have all the players together later on and in that short time we want to work on producing what made us so strong last season. You could see straightaway in the first training session that we have a good mindset."
This week's other training sessions are – with the exception of Saturday – also open to fans.
Please note: The team have another event straight after tomorrow's open training session. For this reason, the players will not be available for selfies and autographs after training tomorrow. We ask you to bear that in mind. From Wednesday, the team will again be happy to fulfil requests for photos and autographs as usual after training.
The first friendly of the pre-season is on Friday 26 July against Rot-Weiss Essen. Tickets went on open sale today at noon.
The first match at the BayArena is against Real Betis at the season launch on 10 August with the kick off at 15.30 CEST. Further information is available HERE.
An overview of the pre-season agenda is HERE.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
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Alejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
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Second game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
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In the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
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Bayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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