Last week, the first-choice keeper Lukas Hradecky was on the subs bench in the 5-1 defeat for Finland in a friendly against Poland. The 30-year-old was back between the sticks for the Nations League clash with Bulgaria – and he kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory for the forthcoming European Championship participants. Werkself loanee Joel Pohjanpalo, this season playing for Union Berlin, was substituted on 65 minutes.
The Finns are now second in Group 4 in League B. Hradecky and Co. end the current international break on Wednesday 14 October with a home game against Ireland (kick-off: 18.00 CEST/live on DAZN).
Like their Leverkusen teammate Hradecky, Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger also picked up three points. The Austrians, also in League B (Group 1), won their away match in Northern Ireland 1-0. Augsburg’s Michael Gregoritsch netted the only goal of the game in Belfast on 42 minutes. Dragovic and Baumgartlinger played the full 90 minutes.
Austria are away to Romania on Wednesday night, 14 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST/live on DAZN) – and another win would take them top of the table.
Croatia were winners in League A (Group 3): The team under national coach Zlatko Dalić won their home game against Sweden 2-1. Tin Jedvaj did not play. Wednesday, 14 October (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on DAZN), sees a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final: Croatia entertain World Cup winners France in Zagreb.
Jonathan Tah (Germany):
Tuesday, 13 October (20.45 CEST/live on ARD): Germany v Switzerland (UEFA Nations League)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria):
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Romania v Austria (UEFA Nations League)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland):
Wednesday, 14 October (18.00 CEST/live on DAZN): Finland v Ireland (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Wednesday, 14 October (20.45 CEST/live on DAZN): Croatia v France (UEFA Nations League)
Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina):
Tuesday, 13 October (22.00 CEST): Bolivia v Argentina (World Cup qualifier)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile):
Tuesday, 14 October (02.30 CEST): Chile v Colombia (World Cup qualifier)
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
Monday, 12 October: Burkina Faso v Madagascar (Friendly)
Lennart Grill and Florian Wirtz (Germany U21):
Tuesday, 13 October (18.15 CEST/live on ProSieben MAXX): Germany U21 v Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Monday, 12 October (21.00 CEST): France U21 v Slovakia U21 (Euro U21 qualifier)
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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