The 18-year-old as again in the Germany squad. During the last international break, Wirtz became the youngest Germany full international in the history the Werkself. Coach Hansi Flick is once again shown his confidence in him. Germany play Romania at the Volkspark Stadium in Hamburg on Friday, 8 October (kick-off: 20.45 CEST), and three days later, the captain Manuel Neuer and Co. are away in North Macedonia (11 October, kick-off: 20.45 CEST).
Charles Aránguiz (Chile), Piero Hincapie (Ecuador), Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Alario (both Argentina) face long-distance flights to South America. All four Bayer 04 players are involved in three World Cup qualifiers. Palacios and Alario, with Argentina, first play Paraguay (8 October, kick-off: 02.00 CEST). The Albiceleste then play Uruguay on 11 October (kick-off: 01.30 CEST).
Jeremie Frimpong and Mitchel Bakker are again with the Holland U21 team during the forthcoming international break. The Werkself defenders are away with the Oranje against Switzerland (8 October, kick-off: 19.00 CEST) matters followed by a home match against Wales (12 October, kick-off: 20.00 CEST). Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland is up against Ukraine (9 October, kick-off: 19.00 CEST) and Kazakhstan (12 October, kick-off: 16.00 CEST).
Florian Wirtz (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Germany vs Romania, Hamburg
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, North Macedonia vs Germany, Skopje
Charles Aránguiz (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 03.00 CEST, Peru vs Chile, Lima
11.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Chile vs Paraguay, Santiago
15.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Chile vs Venezuela, Santiago
Odilon Kossounou (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 15.00 CEST, Malawi vs Ivory Coast, Johannesburg
11.10.21, 18.00 CEST, Ivory Coast vs Malawi, Cotonou
Exequiel Palacios and Lucas Alario (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 02.00 CEST, Paraguay vs Argentina, Asuncíon
11.10.21, 01.30 CEST, Argentina vs Uruguay, Buenos Aires
15.10.21, 01.30 CEST, Argentina vs Peru, Buenos Aires
Mitchel Bakker and Jeremie Frimpong (U21 Euros qualifiers)
8.10.21, 19.00 CEST, Switzerland vs Netherlands, Lausanne
12.10.21, 20.00 CEST, Netherlands vs Wales, Nijmegen
Amine Adli (U21 Euros qualifiers)
8.10.21, 18.30 CEST, France vs Ukraine, Brest
12.10.21, 18.30 CEST, Serbia vs Francs, Belgrade
Lukas Hradecky (World Cup qualifiers)
9.10.21, 18.00 CEST, Finland vs Ukraine, Helsinki
12.10.21, 16.00 CEST, Kazakhstan vs Finland, Astana
Patrik Schick (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Czech Republic vs Wales, Prague
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Belarus vs Czech Republic, Kazan
Andrey Lunev (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Russia vs Slovakia, Kazan
11.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Slovenia vs Russia, Maribor
Moussa Diaby (Nations League)
7.10.21, 20.45 CEST, Belgium vs France, Turin (Semi-final)
10.10.21, 20.45 CEST, France/Belgium vs Italy/Spain, Turin (Final or third-place match)
Piero Hincapie (World Cup qualifiers)
8.10.21, 02.30 CEST, Ecuador vs Bolivia, Guayaquil
10.10.21, 22.30 CEST, Venezuela vs Ecuador, Caracas
14.10.21, 23.00 CEST, Colombia vs Ecuador, Barranquilla
Zidan Sertdemir (U17 Euro qualifiers)
6.10.21, Montenegro vs Denmark, Paola
9.10.21, Malta vs Denmark, Paola
12.10.21, Denmark vs Turkey, Paola
It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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Werkself TV shows highlights of the 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league...
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The Werkself beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg to claim a crucial victory in the Greek capital. After a focused first-half display with a number of presentable chances, Patrik Schick crowned a textbook counter to hand the Werkself the lead on the hour (60’). The Czech rounded off his brace when he headed in from a corner just 144 seconds later. Bayer 04 maintained their lead with aplomb to achieve a good position for the return leg in Leverkusen.
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Bayer 04 and Olympiacos had only met twice before the current UEFA Champions campaign. After the encounter on Matchday 7 of this season’s league phase, the Werkself travel to face the Greek side for the second time in just four weeks for the knockout play-off first leg. The Black and Reds were dominant for large spells in mid-January but lost 2-0 after missing a number of presentable chances. The Werkself aim to do better on Wednesday night to “seize the chance for revenge,” as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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