Summer signing Lennart Grill faces Moldova with the Germany U21s in Wiesbaden in the late afternoon. The game kicks off at 18.00 CET (live on ProSieben MAXX) with the Germany youngsters battling for crucial points to qualify for next year’s U21 Euros in Hungary and Slovenia. The big match in Group 9 is on 8 September in Heverlee: Grill and Co. are away to the Belgium U21s (kick-off: 16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX).
The Germany senior team also play their first game of the calendar year on Thursday. After the longest break in international fixtures in 70 years, Germany are involved in a real classic encounter: a clash with Spain. The game in Stuttgart kicks off at 20.45 CET and is live on ZDF and RTL. Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz are in the Germany squad with coach Joachim Löw also including the Werkself duo for second Nations League game against Switzerland three days later in Basel (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on ZDF). The matches are behind closed doors.
Joel Pohjanpalo and Lukas Hradecky start the new Nations League season at the same time as teammate Tah. The duo are set to play for Finland against Wales in Helsinki on Thursday (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on DAZN). The European Championship participants are away to Ireland three days later (kick-off: 18.00 CET/live on DAZN).
A day later each time, Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger are in action with Austria. The Leverkusen players first travel to Oslo for the game against Norway on 4 September (kick-off 20.45 CET/live on DAZN). On Monday, 7 September, there is a home game against Romania. The kick-off is also at 20.45 CET and the streaming service DAZN is also broadcasting this match involving Black and Red players live.
After returning from loan, Tin Jedvaj and his Croatia teammates also face two real crunch games – both away from home. European champions Portugal are the first opponents in Porto on Saturday, 5 September. On 8 September, Jedvaj and Co. are away to World Cup winners France in Paris (both games kick off at 20.45 CET and are live on DAZN).
Moussa Diaby has the the longest journey of all the Bayer 04 internationals. The winger is set to play for the France U21s around 3,000 kilometres from Leverkusen. On Friday, 4 September, there is an away game against the Georgia U21s in Gori. Three days later, there is a match in Sumqayit against the Azerbaijan U21s. Both encounters kick off at 19.00 CET. Diaby and Co. are playing for a place in next year’s U21 Euros.
Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz (both Germany):
Thursday, 3 September (20.45 CET/live on ZDF and RTL): Germany v Spain (UEFA Nations League)
Sunday, 6 September (20.45 CET/live on ZDF): Switzerland v Germany (UEFA Nations League)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (both Austria):
Friday, 4 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Norway v Austria (UEFA Nations League)
Monday, 7 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Austria v Romania (UEFA Nations League)
Joel Pohjanpalo and Lukas Hradecky (both Finland):
Thursday, 3 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Finland v Wales (UEFA Nations League)
Sunday, 6 September (18.00 CET/live on DAZN): Ireland v Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Saturday, 5 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Portugal v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Tuesday, 8 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): France v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Lennart Grill (Germany U21):
Thursday, 3 September (18.15 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Germany U21 v Moldova U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Tuesday, 8 September (16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Belgium U21 v Germany U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Friday, 4 September (19.00 CET): Georgia U21 v France U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Monday, 7 September (19.00 CET): Azerbaijan U21 v France U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
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