19.03.2018Bayer 04

International update – Friendly against Bochum at Kurtekotten

This week sees the first international break for the Bundesliga in the World Cup year 2018. While ten Werkself pros and four youth players are in action for their national sides, the rest of the first team squad will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Bundesliga match against FC Augsburg on Easter Saturday. A friendly has also been arranged: The match between Bayer 04 and second division VfL Bochum on Thursday has been moved from the Haberland Stadium to the Kurtekotten Academy. The kick-off time of 15.00 CET remains the same and there is free entry. The game against the team coached by Robin Dutt, which includes two former Bayer 04 players Sidney Sam and Robbie Kruse, will be broadcast live on bayer04.de and Facebook.

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno and Julian Brandt could feature in two very interesting friendlies for Germany. The team coached by Joachim Löw entertain Spain in Düsseldorf on Friday 23 March at 20.45 CET before the match against record world champions Brazil at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Tuesday 27 March at 20.45 CET.

The Germany U 21s, including skipper Jonathan Tah and Benjamin Henrichs, are involved in a battle for crucial points in European Championship qualifiers. The team under coach Stefan Kuntz, who are leading Group 5 with 12 points from five games ahead of Ireland (on 10), play Israel on Thursday 22 March in a 19.00 CET kick-off in Braunschweig before the fixture in Kosovo on Tuesday 27 March at 18.45 CET..

Following a long injury lay-off, Tin Jedvaj returns to the Croatia squad for the two friendlies in the USA against Peru (Friday 23 March in Miami) and Mexico (Wednesday 28 March in Arlington/Texas). Julian Baumgartlinger and Austria have friendlies against Slovenia on Friday 23 March 20.45 CET and Luxembourg on Tuesday 27 March at 20.30 CET. Panos Retsos also has two games in prospect with Greece starting on Friday 23 March at 21.00 CET against Switzerland in Basel and that is followed on Tuesday 27 March at 20.00 CET by match against Egypt in Zürich.

Charles Aránguiz is with Chile for two games in Scandinavia with Sweden the opponents on Saturday 24 March at 18.00 CET in Solna and Denmark on Tuesday 27 March at 20.00 CET in Aalborg. Joel Pohjanpalo is in the Finland squad for their fixtures against Macedonia (Friday 23 March, 19.00 CET) and Malta (Monday 26 March, 19.00 CET).

Three Bayer 04 players are looking to complete a decisive step for the Germany U19 team on the way to July's European Championships in Finland. Kai Havertz captains the team under coach Meikel Schönweitz that also includes Sam Schreck and Atakan Akkaynak. To make it to the European Championship finals, the Germany U19s have to come out on top in three games against Scotland (21 March at 18.00 CET in Ennepetal), Norway (24 March at 12.00 CET in Hüsten) and the Netherlands (27 March at 18.00 CET in Ahlen). Only the group winners will progress to the finals in Finland.

Two other Bayer 04 U19 players are away on international duty: Jakub Bednarczyk is with Poland for the European Championship qualifiers against the Czech Republic, Italy and Greece, and Güven Yalcin is with the Turkey U19s for the same mission against Austria, Denmark and Bosnia.

Related News

Women - 01.08.2026

Home kit debut: Women’s team win friendly against Genk

With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.

Bayer 04 - 01.08.2026

Werkself beat Essen 3-0 in friendly ahead of preseason training camp

A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.

Bayer 04 - 01.08.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn August 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 personal 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…

Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Werkself Team of the Quarter-Century: Wirtz and Alonso top the poll – Tapsoba and Rolfes in starting XI

You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.

Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Tillman back in Leverkusen after World Cup with the USA

Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.