
Kevin Volland, Mitchell Weiser, Karim Bellarabi, Wendell, Kerem Demirbay, the two goalkeepers Ramazan ‘Rambo’ Özcan and Niklas Lomb plus U19 player Ayman Azhil formed today's training group. The Bender twins completed individual sessions – Lars was involved in a running session on the pitch ahead of his team-mates.
"I don't know when Lars will be back with the team. The problem is that we are only a small group at the moment. That means everything the players do is intensive. We have to be careful – perhaps it's better if he completes an individual programme at the BayArena first," said Bosz. With regard to his twin brother Sven, he is expecting him to return to training tomorrow: "He could have trained today but I decided to rest him. He's played in every game and he has to take it a bit easier when we have the opportunity."
The head coach faces the longer term absence of Charles Aránguiz (hairline fracture in right metatarsal plus thigh injury) and Daley Sinkgraven (muscular injury) – both were injured in Saturday’s game against RB Leipzig. "Unfortunately, that happens in football. Up to that matchday, we haven't had serious injuries this season. Now it's hit us hard. It's a shame that happened." The 54-year-old coach does not think there will be a major problem on the personnel front: "Despite that, we will field eleven players in the next game," said Bosz, tongue-in-cheek, looking forward to the next away game at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday 18 October (20.30 CET).
Leon Bailey could be back in time for that game. The Jamaican was working with the ball on the training ground on Monday and on his own at the stadium on Tuesday. "He will probably return to full training at the end of the week," said Bosz.
As Jogi Löw announced at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Germany's friendly against Argentina, including Lucas Alario, Jonathan Tah is sidelined at the moment, "Jona is very likely to miss the game. He came with a cold and it has got a bit worse overnight. We have to assume he won't train today and won't be able to play tomorrow," said the Germany coach.
Nadiem Amiri is hoping to earn his first full international cap. In an unusual move, he rang Löw himself for his first call-up. "Marcus Sorg wrote to me to say I should ring up the national coach because he doesn't have my current phone number," explained Amiri. "That gave me a bit of hope. Then Jogi told me I was in the squad. That felt great! It's a big dream come true."
While the international players prepare with their teams for the forthcoming fixtures, the players at home once again were helping out with the support day, the 'Wir(04)helfen-Tag'. Along with coaches and staff from Bayer 04, Wendell, Kerem Demirbay and Co. got to work in the Neuland Park in Leverkusen in treacherous weather conditions – the dark rain clouds simply refused to move on – as they helped to get the green spaces shipshape. The club is looking to return something to the City of Leverkusen with this event. A more detailed report on the fifth 'Wir(04)helfen-Tag' is to follow here on bayer04.de.

No points in the Kraichgau: the Werkself lost 1-0 away to top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga Matchday 18. Wouter Burger scored the only goal with a free kick in the ninth minute. In an uneventful contest, the Werkself tried hard to find an equaliser but were repeatedly thwarted.
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The meeting between fifth and sixth on Saturday afternoon (17 January, 15:30 CET) is a hard one to predict. While the Werkself can take confidence from their historic record at TSG Hoffenheim, the hosts are currently enjoying their second-best Bundesliga campaign and have lost just one of their last 10 games. Another good omen for Bayer 04: Daniel Schlager also refereed Leverkusen's last victory in Sinsheim (4-1). The Matchday News.
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At the end of the winter training camp in Portugal, the Bayer 04 Women convincingly mastered their friendly ahead of the start of the second half of the season. In the match against Swiss league leaders Servette FCCF, coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 3-0 at the Monte Gordo Sports Complex. Carlotta Wamser (4’), Vanessa Fudalla (18’) and Loreen Bender (53’) scored for Bayer 04, who have been preparing for the Rückrunde in the Algarve since last Saturday.
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The German Football League (DFL) has rescheduled the postponed fixture at Hamburger SV on Bundesliga matchday 17. The match, due to be played on Tuesday, has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, 4 March (kick-off: 20:30 CET).
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The Rückrunde is about to begin: The Werkself travel to TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday, 17 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 18. At the pre-match press conference on Friday lunchtime, head coach Kasper Hjulmand emphasised the double anticipation for the clash following Tuesday's postponement of the fixture at Hamburger SV. And he also talked about the tactical approach against an opponent on course for Champions League qualification.
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