Bayer 04 end the 2021/22 Bundesliga season in third place following last Saturday’s 2-1 home win against SC Freiburg. The Werkself are second in the form table for the Rückrunde level on points with RB Leipzig in first place who ended their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Arminia Bielefeld. The team led by coach Gerardo Seoane picked up an impressive 36 points in the second half of the season with a goal difference of 40 to 19 – Leipzig (42-15).
That represents an increase of eight points for the Black and Reds in the Hinrunde. Hradecky and Co. were in fourth place with 28 points after matchday 17 with 40 goals scored and 28 conceded. Over the whole season, Bayer 04 were equally effective in attack with the defence more solid in the Rückrunde.
The Sportschau named two Bayer 04 players in their team of matchday 34. Paulinho impressed in the win against Sport Club Freiburg with his “exceptional class.” The ARD TV programme explained the selection as follows: “He again and again showed his pace down the flanks and often cut inside – to pose a threat on goal himself.”
For Exequiel Palacios it was his outstanding stamina. The Argentina international was ahead of all the other players with 12.4 kilometres covered. In addition, the midfield dynamo scored the winner at 2-1 with a long-range effort from the semi-circle.
Germany coach Hansi Flick will announce his squad for the forthcoming international fixtures on Thursday 19 May. First, there is a short training camp in Marbella from 25 to 27 May and that will be followed in July by four games in the UEFA Nations League Hansi Flick.
Bayer 04 defender Jonathan Tah is in with a good chance of being called up. The Germany international with 15 caps was last called up for the last international break at the end of March. The Werkself number four has impressed during the closing stages of the Bundesliga season with consistent performances and he made a decisive contribution to Bayer 04 qualifying for the Champions League.
Mitchell Weiser helped seal the return of Werder Bremen to the Bundesliga on Sunday 15 May. The North German side, out of the top-flight for a year, will be back next season. The 28-year-old defender made 24 appearances in the second division for Werder Bremen scoring two goals and providing two assists. Congratulations on the promotion, Mitch.
Joel Pohjanpalo is currently on loan at top-flight Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor. The relegation of his loan club from the SüperLig was confirmed with a game to play but the Finland international currently shares second place in the top goalscorers’ list with 16 goals. Only Umut Bozok (18) of Kasimpasa SK has scored more.
Nadiem Amiri joined Genoa CFC in Serie A in January 2022. The big Italian club is in a relegation spot on the penultimate matchday of the season. A win next Sunday 22 May against Bologna could take Amiri and Co. out of the drop zone if their rivals lose. The 25-year-old midfielder made twelve appearances in the second half of the season and he has provided two assists to date.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
Show more
Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
Show more
Austria or Kosovo? Claudia Wenger or Lumbardha Misini? Only one of these two Bayer 04 women will see her dream of competing at the World Cup in Brazil (24 June to 25 July 2027) live on beyond the next two weeks. From a Leverkusen perspective, the two direct clashes between the Werkself players as they battle for a place in the second play-off round stand out during the upcoming international break. For several other players, the chance of a World Cup place is also at stake. Bayer04.de provides an overview of the women’s international call-ups.
Show more
Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
Show more
