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

Rekord: Frauen feiern 14. Saisonsieg in Essen | 24. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 03.05.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 4-0 win at SGS Essen

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.

Show more
Ibrahim Maza, Patrik Schick und Nathan Tella beim Torjubel
Bundesliga - 02.05.2026

Werkself move up to fourth place after 4-1 win against RB Leipzig

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.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #B04RBL
Bundesliga - 02.05.2026

Matchday news #B04RBL: All in red for the next top match win

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.

Show more
Garcia und Grimaldo
eSports - 01.05.2026

Bayer 04 represented in Bundesliga Team of the Season again

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.

Show more