Back
1.06.2022Bayer 04

#InternationalWerkself: Palacios and Co. in Finalissima against Italy

While the majority of the Werkself are currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday, several of the Bayer 04 players still have games to play. A total of eight members of the Black and Red first team squad are currently on international duty and will play in the next few days. Exequiel Palacios starts tonight on Wednesday 1 June – an overview.
crop_20220517_JS_Mexico_LFC_B04_Day3_1320.jpg

The European champions meet the winners of the Copa América in the Finalissima. The new competition was agreed on 15 December 2020 after UEFA and CONMEBOL signed an updated agreement in principle. Italy qualified for the match thanks to the 3-2 win on penalties against England in last year's European Championships final; the Argentina team including Werkself midfielder Palacios won the South American title again for the first time in 28 years – with a 1-0 win against Brazil in the final.

Exequiel Palacios has won 18 full international caps to date. The match at Wembley Stadium kicks off tonight at 20.45 CEST.

Friday: Five players in action

The other Bayer 04 players will be on the pitch on Friday 3 June. Mitchel Bakker is first up with the Netherlands U21s in a European championship qualifier away to Moldova at 18.45 CEST. Bakker & Co. are currently second in Group 5 and they are only two points behind the leaders Switzerland having played one game less.

Then Moussa Diaby and France take on Denmark in the UEFA Nations League in Group 1A. The kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris is at 20.45 CEST.

Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou play their first matches in the Africa Cup of Nations from 21.00 CEST. The Werkself number 12 with Burkina Faso face Cape Verde in Marrakesh. Kossounou and the Ivory Coast play at the same time at home to Zambia in Yamoussoukro.

The #InternationalWerkself day is rounded off by Piero Hincapie with Ecuador. La Tri play the first of three friendlies in New Jersey (USA). Nigeria are the opponents in the first match. That game starts at 02.30 CEST.

Saturday: Tah against Italy, Hradecky against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Jonathan Tah is with Germany on Saturday 4 June for the game against hosts Italy in Bologna in Group 3A of the UEFA Nation's League. RTL will broadcast the match live on terrestrial TV as well as via a live stream from 20.15 CEST. The match kicks off at 20.45 CEST.

Before that, the Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky with Finland are also in action in the Nations League. The opponents in their first match in Group 3B are Bosnia-Herzegovina. The kick-off at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki is at 18.00 CEST.

INTERNATIONAL FXTURES:

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 (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)

Related News

Bayer04_Arsenal_London_2526.jpg
Champions League - 27.02.2026

Tickets for the Champions League Round of 16 home game against Arsenal

The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.

Show more
Lucas Vázquez
Bayer 04 - 27.02.2026

Injury sidelines Lucas Vázquez

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Spanish player Lucas Vázquez for the time being. The experienced full-back and winger suffered an injury to his right calf during the Werkself's Champions League match against Olympiacos (0-0) on Tuesday.

Show more
Friederike Repohl
Women - 26.02.2026

After five years at Bayer 04: Goalkeeper Friederike Repohl to retire

A goalkeeping era is coming to an end for Bayer 04 Women, with Friederike Repohl retiring when her contract expires at the end of the season. The 31-year-old has played for the Werkself since 2021 and also captained the team since last season. The Bielefeld-born keeper already made her decision during the winter break before her injury.

Show more
Marc und Sean Landwehr
eSports - 26.02.2026

#B04eSports: Leverkusen through to third straight VBL CC final after play-off win

Job done: the Bayer 04 eSports team defeated SV Darmstadt 98 in the play-offs to secure their consecutive participation in the VBL Club Championship final. The journey continues now for Leverkusen on Saturday 7 March (from 17:00 CET) with a last-16 encounter at Hamburger SV.

Show more
Carlotta Wamser im Trikot der deutschen Nationalmannschaft
Women - 25.02.2026

World Cup qualifiers: Eight Bayer 04 women on international duty

The first international break in 2026 marks the start of the battle to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil for a German and Austrian duo, while a quintet will conclude the U23 international season. A total of eight Leverkusen players will be on international duty with their national teams in the coming days.

Show more