Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky is in the Finland squad. The Werkself keeper is set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina again in Group 3 of League B in the UEFA Nations League.
International duty started on Monday 23 May for Jonathan Tah. The 26-year-old is currently with the Germany squad at a five-day training camp in Marbella. The team under coach Hansi Flick are preparing for Nations League games in June. The opponents in Group 3 of League A are European champions Italy, England, Hungary and Italy again.
Moussa Diaby is also lined up for international fixtures. France national coach Didier Deschamps has called up the pacy striker to his 24-man squad. The Équipe Tricolore first play Denmark before two matches in Group 1 of League A against Croatia and Austria.
A new competition is about to take place: Argentina, winners of the 2021 Copa America, play the reigning European champions Italy at Wembley Stadium. Werkself midfielder Exequiel Palacios is in the South American squad. The 23-year-old has made 18 full international appearances so far.
Piero Hincapie is on the road with Ecuador. The versatile defender is on a USA tour of friendlies with games against Nigeria, Mexico and Cape Verde. The 20-year-old has 16 caps for Ecuador to date and has scored one goal for his country.
Edmond Tapsoba has two qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in June. The Werkself number 12 is with Burkina Faso for a game against Cape Verde and a meeting with Eswatini. Togo are the fourth team in Group B of the AFCON qualifiers.
Defender Odilon Kossounou is in the squad for two games for the Ivory Coast. The 13-time International faces Zambia and Lesotho in Group H of the AFCON qualifiers. The match against the third group opponents Comoros is set to be played in September 2022.
Left-back Mitchel Bakker is in the final 23-man squad. As part of the European championship qualifiers, the team under Marcel Groninger play Moldova, Gibraltar and Wales. Bakker and Co. are currently second in Group 5 just two points behind leaders Switzerland having played one game less.
INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:
Lukas Hradecky – Finland
4 June, 18.00 CEST: Finland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (UEFA Nations League)
7 June, 18.00 CEST: Finland vs Montenegro (UEFA Nations League)
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Romania vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Jonathan Tah – Germany
4 June, 20:45 CEST: Italy vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)
7 June, 20:45 CEST: Germany vs England (UEFA Nations League)
11 June, 20.45 CEST: Hungary vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)
14 June, 20.45 CEST: Germany vs Italy (UEFA Nations League)
Moussa Diaby – France
3 June, 20.45 CEST: France vs Denmark (UEFA Nations League)
6 June, 20.45 CEST: Croatia vs France (UEFA Nations League)
10 June, 20.45 CEST: Austria vs France (UEFA Nations League)
13 June, 20.45 CEST: France vs Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Exequiel Palacios – Argentina
1 June, 20.45 CEST: Italy vs Argentina (Finalissima)
Piero Hincapie – Ecuador
3 June, 02.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Nigeria (Friendly)
6 June, 01.30 CEST: Mexico vs Ecuador (Friendly)
12 June, 23.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Cape Verde (Friendly)
Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
3. June, 21.00 CEST: Burkina Faso vs Cape Verde Islands (AFCON qualifier)
7. June, 15.00 CEST: Eswatini vs Burkina Faso (AFCON qualifier)
Odilon Kossounou – Ivory Coast
3 June, 21.00 CEST: Ivory Coast vs Zambia (AFCON qualifier)
9 June, 21.00 CEST: Lesotho vs Ivory Coast (AFCON qualifier)
Mitchel Bakker – Netherlands U21
3 June, 18.45 CEST: Moldova U21 vs Netherlands U21 (Euro qualifier)
7 June, 20.00 CEST: Netherlands U21 vs Gibraltar U21 (Euro qualifier)
11 June, 18.00 CEST: Wales U21 vs Netherlands U 21 (Euro qualifier)
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Another showdown in the race for the Champions League places takes place in Swabia: on Saturday 9 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Werkself visit VfB Stuttgart, who are only behind on goal difference. In his pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about confidence, excitement and mentality.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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