Flight number X3 8904 took off from Cologne/Bonn Airport at exactly 12.10 CET. After 70 minutes in the air, there was a short coach journey from the Václav Havel Airport to the team hotel. The city of Prague, normally popular with tourists, is also affected by the coronavirus pandemic; the streets are emptier than usual in the city on the Voltava river.
For the Black and Red delegation, there was a short break on the agenda after lunch ahead of setting off to the Eden Arena in the late afternoon for the press conference and final pre-match training session. That is the venue for the Europa League clash with Slavia Prague on Thursday night, 29 October (kick-off: 21.00 CET/live on DAZN, RTL Nitro and Werks11 Radio at bayer04.de)
Following Monday night’s 3-1 home win against FC Augsburg, regeneration was primarily on the agenda for the Werkself. “The game was very intensive. It did us good to have won the game in the end,” recounted Julian Baumgartlinger ahead of the flight to the Czech Republic. Looking at the forthcoming opponents in the Europa League, the 32-year-old sees “a very talented and hard-working team. They showed their quality last year in the Champions League. But we want to play with the dominance we showed against Nice – and again take the three points.”
Let’s take a brief look back at Monday night: It was a decision that set off vocal protests from FC Augsburg players, , coaches and management: 34 minutes into the Werkself home game against FCA (3-1), referee Sören Storks awarded Bayer 04 a free kick. However, the handball in midfield was committed by Exequiel Palacios. In response, the Werkself head coach Peter Bosz ordered the free kick to be played back to Augsburg. “I did issue the instruction but it’s not worth talking about,” said the Dutchman. “That’s all part of fair play.”
From the Europa League via the Bundesliga to the DFB Cup: As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday, the draw for the second round proper will be on 8 November. The draw will be broadcast live on ARD from 18.30 CET, albeit due to the coronavirus pandemic from the studio in Cologne rather than the German Football Museum in Dortmund. DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth will make the draw.
The Werkself coasted through the first round with a 7-0 victory over Regional League North side Eintracht Norderstedt. The next round of the cup is planned for 22 and 23 December and that also represents the final competitive match in 2020 for Bayer 04.
Nadiem Amiri celebrated his 24th birthday on Tuesday. Bayer 04 send belated congratulations; the Ludwigshafen-born player as been at the Werkself since the summer of 2019. The reason the 24-year-old feels so much at home under the Bayer Cross and the special significance of the Rhine can be read HERE.
Torben Hoffmann, with 19 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Reds between 1999 and 2001, was also a year old on Tuesday. The Sky reporter is now 46. Again, belated happy birthday, Torben!
A day later than the duo, former Werkself keeper Frank Juric celebrates his birthday on Wednesday – and he is now 47 years old. The Australian was at Leverkusen for five years from 1999, making eleven Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Reds during that time. Since May of last year, Juric has been working as goalkeeping coach at the Australian top-flight club Western United. Bayer 04 send digital birthday greetings to the other side of the world. Best wishes!
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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