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 - 11.12.2025

Women in final Hinrunde game at Werder Bremen

The penultimate Bundesliga matchday of the calendar year marks the end of an eventful first half of the season for the Bayer 04 Women. After seven wins, one draw and four defeats from the first twelve games of the season, coach Roberto Pätzold's team can go above Werder Bremen in the table with a win on Friday, 12 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET).

eSports - 11.12.2025

#B04eSports: Match between the two Showdown winners opens the third event

The third showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 kicks off for the Leverkusen eSports team this Thursday, 11 December (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Red will once again take on six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round, which will take place at this third showdown on 19 December in Cologne. Showdown One winners Bayer 04 will face FC St. Pauli, who won the second showdown last month, among others. The lowdown on first three opponents in this online preliminary round.

Alejandro Grimaldo, Ibrahim Maza und Christian Kofane

Champions League - 10.12.2025

Werkself level late in 2-2 draw with Newcastle United

Alejandro Grimaldo, of course! With his late equaliser (88') in the Champions League clash against Newcastle United, the Spaniard rescued a point for the Werkself, who took the lead through an own goal by Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes (13') but went with two goals for the visitors scored by Anthony Gordon (51') and Lewis Miley (74'). It was the third draw for Bayer 04 in the current 2025/26 campaign on matchday 6 in the UCL league phase.

Champions League - 10.12.2025

Matchday news #B04NEW: Take on Newcastle with efficiency and quick transitions

The Werkself will be looking to continue their run in the Champions League against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The two victories without conceding a goal at Benfica (1:0) and Manchester City (2-0) will hopefully be followed by a win at home at the BayArena. Against the English side, who have a player with a Black and Red past in their ranks, the way to victory could be through efficiency in attack and quick transitional play. The latter in particular has recently caused the Magpies problems away from home on the European stage. Fans can also get the stylish matchday sticker for their Sound of Dreams tour pass at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt. The matchday news.

Jubel nach dem 1:0 gegen Newcastle United

U19 - 10.12.2025

2-1 against Newcastle United- U19s though to Youth League knockout phase for the first time

For the first time ever, Bayer 04 have reached the knockout phase of the UEFA Youth League. At the end of the league phase, the Leverkusen U19s secured a 2-1 home win against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December. Montrell Culbreath scored before half-time and Ferdinand Pohl doubled the lead after the restart in the clash with the English side. The UCL youth competition continues at the beginning of February with the Round of 32, which will be played away from home without a second leg.