Disappointment in the Germany camp: Following the draw against Spain, the match against Switzerland ended all square at 1-1. With two new players in the starting eleven, Germany took the lead on 14 minutes with a serene finish by Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City). But the Swiss levelled on the hour mark through Silvan Widmer. Werkself central defender Jonathan Tah replaced Niklas Süle on 62 minutes.
Two Black and Red players had reason to celebrate in Dublin. Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo started for Finland against Ireland – and they found the right response to last Thursday’s 1-0 home defeat against Wales. Fredrik Jensen scored the only goal of the game on 63 minutes to give Finland three important points in League B. The scorer replaced Pohjanpalo just before netting the winning goal; Bayer 04 goalkeeper Hradecky went the full distance in goal for Finland.
Croatia failed to pick up points on their first matchday in the new Nations League campaign. The away game at European Champions Portugal, who played without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, ended in a 4-1 defeat. João
Cancelo (41'), Diogo Jota (58'), Joao Felix (70') and André Silva (90+4') scored for the hosts with Bruno Petkovic netting a consolation goal for the Croats at 3-1 (90+ 1'). The Werkself player Tin Jedvaj played the full 90 minutes at right back. Jedvaj and Co. face World Cup winners France on Tuesday, 8 September. The match in Paris kicks off at 20.45 CET and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Moussa Diaby features in the first game of the new week from a black and red perspective. The winger is set to play for the France U21s in a Euro qualifier away to Azerbaijan on Monday night at 19.00 CET. The Werkself duo Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger with Austria play Romania in the Nation League at 20.45 CET (live on DAZN). In addition to Jedvaj, Lennart Grill will again be in action on Tuesday. The Leverkusen new signing will be in goal for the Germany U21 side in Belgium (16.0 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX).
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Monday, 7 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Austria v Romania (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Tuesday, 8 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): France v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Lennart Grill (Germany U21):
Tuesday, 8 September (16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Belgium U21 v Germany U21 (U21 Euro qualifier)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Monday, 7 September (19.00 CET): Azerbaijan U21 v France U21 (U21 Euro qualifier)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed France U17 international Kenan Doganay. The 1.90-metre-tall defensive midfielder, who has Turkish roots, joins Leverkusen from the U19s at French top-flight club Olympique Lyon. He will initially train with and play for the U19 team.
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The Sports Tribunal of the German Football Association (DFB) has fined Bayer 04 Leverkusen €185,000 for spectators setting off pyrotechnic devices during a total of five competitive matches. This relates to four Bundesliga matches and the DFB Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich. The highest individual fine relates to the away match at FC Köln at the end of April.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
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Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.
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