
The international break is over. The three Bayer 04 players Piero Hincapie (Ecuador) plus Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (both Argentina) were involved with their national teams in the night from Thursday to Friday – all three remained unbeaten.
Hincapie celebrated picking up a point in a goalless draw between Ecuador and Colombia, which could prove very important for the outcome of the World Cup qualifiers. La Tri are third after 12 games (17 points) – behind Brazil (31) and Argentina (25). As it stands, Ecuador would qualify directly for the tournament in Qatar.
The gap to the play-off position of fifth, currently occupied by Uruguay, is exactly one point. For Hincapie, who played the full 90 minutes, the clash with Colombia was his ninth full international appearance – and his third game with a clean sheet.
Bayer 04 midfielder Exequiel Palacios made his 14th full international appearance last night. The 23-year-old came off the bench late on to replace Giovanni Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur) in the 1-0 win for Argentina against Peru. It was the seventh victory in the eleven qualifying matches for the Albiceleste. Argentina remain unbeaten in the South America group with seven wins and four draws. Lucas Alario, back in the Argentina squad for the first time since his injury, did not play against Peru.

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 4-1 win against RB Leipzig on Matchday 32 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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