The Netherlands U21s, with Bayer 04 left-back Mitchel Bakker playing the full 90 minutes, are top of Group E in the European Championship qualifiers. Thanks to a 3-0 victory over Moldova, the Oranje youngsters went above Switzerland in the group. They have a one-point lead.
Direct qualification for the U21 Euros finals is in the hands of Bakker and Co. this week. The final opponents in the qualifiers are Gibraltar (7 June) and Wales (11 June) – and they are currently in the bottom two in the group.
Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou were also winners in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Tapsoba’s Burkina Faso secured a 2-0 win against Cape Verde in the first game in Group B. The Werkself central defender was in the starting eleven but he had to off on the half-hour mark due to a thigh problem. Get well soon, Eddi. The next match is against Eswatini on 7 June.
Ivory Coast with Kossounou took top spot in Group H. They started with a 3-1 win against Zambia with the Leverkusen defender on the bench. The Ivorians have another international fixture coming up against Lesotho on 9 June.
Moussa Diaby was the only player on the losing side for starters. The Werkself winger and the Nations League title holders were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Denmark. Andreas Cornelius, teammate of Bayer 04 homegrown player Emrehan Gedikli at the champions of Turkey Trabzonspor, hit back after Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) scored the opener. Diaby came on in added time to make his fifth full international appearance.
France have another two games in the top group in the Nations League: The Equipe Tricolore play Croatia on 6 June and Austria four days later.
Hincapie und Co. siegen
Ecuador with Werkself player Piero Hincapie played the first of three friendlies in the current international fixtures overnight from Thursday to Friday European time. Pervis Estupinan (FC Villarreal) scored the only goal of the game against Nigeria on three minutes at the New York Red Bulls ground. Hincapie played the full 90 minutes. The World Cup participant has a friendly against Mexico on 6 June and another against Mali five days later.
Two other Werkself players start the final international fixtures of the season tonight (Saturday 4 June): Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky with Finland face Bosnia and Herzegovina at 18.00 CEST and Germany, with Jonathan Tah in the squad, play Italy at 20.45 CEST.
INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:
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)
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)
Moussa Diaby – France
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
5 June, 20.00 CEST: Argentina vs Estonia (Friendly)
Piero Hincapie – Ecuador
6 June, 01.30 CEST: Mexico vs Ecuador (Friendly)
12 June, 23.30 CEST: Ecuador vs Cape Verde (Friendly)
Edmond Tapsoba – Burkina Faso
7 June, 15.00 CEST: Eswatini vs Burkina Faso (AFCON qualifier)
Odilon Kossounou – Ivory Coast
9 June, 21.00 CEST: Lesotho vs Ivory Coast (AFCON qualifier)
Mitchel Bakker – Netherlands U21
7 June, 20.00 CEST: Netherlands U21 vs Gibraltar U21 (Euro qualifier)
11 June, 18.00 CEST: Wales U21 vs Netherlands U21 (Euro qualifier)
Calling all Bayer 04 fans: The Werkself will play Pisa SC, newly promoted to Serie A, at the BayArena as part of the season opener. The clash with the club from Tuscany is on Tuesday, 5 August with the kick-off at 18:00 CET. Entrance to the stadium with a wide range of entertainment provided is possible from 15:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales for the season opener.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the 17-year-old forward Dustin Buck. The Germany youth international joins from the youth set-up at FC Augsburg. The technically gifted and fast attacker will strengthen the Werkself U19 squad.
Show moreA great night for 'Calle': Bayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser helped Germany to an opening win in the Women's Euro in Switzerland with an impressive performance. After coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Poland in Group C, the winger provided an assist and helped set up the second goal. The 21-year-old earned great praise from her coach and teammates in her first tournament match.
Show moreA new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
Show moreThe Werkself will welcome Serie A newcomers Pisa SC to the BayArena for a friendly on Tuesday, 5 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST / stadium opens: 15:00) as part of the season opener celebrations. Bayer 04 will offer fans a lively and varied supporting programme on the stadium concourse. Ahead of kick-off, both the men's and women's senior squads will be introduced on the pitch.
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