The 19-year-old first played in a 2 versus 2 with Furky against Werkself fans. Wirtz opted for his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and in his favourite kit, the blue Werkself away strip. With success – the two Bayer 04 players clocked up a convincing 3-0 win with Wirtz netting a brace with his virtual persona. The Werkself duo also won the second game 3-2.
Wirtz then challenged Furky to a 1 v 1 with the Werkself player getting off to a flying start with the lead on seven minutes. The eSports player was then spurred on to level and cancel out Wirtz’ lead in less than two minutes. The Werkself number 27 was finally on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline.
In addition to tactical tips and tricks from the eSports player Furky, Florian Wirtz also answered numerous questions from the viewers on the Bayer 04 Twitch channel. The currently injured Werkself playmaker also provided exclusive insights into life in the dressing room: "Patrik (Schick ed.) sits to my left and Jerry (Jeremie Frimpong ed.) is on my right.” The Germany international also answered the question of who is responsible for the music: “Karim (Bellarabi ed.) and Moussa (Diaby ed.) lead the way. But, above all, on the bus it's Kerem (Demirbay ed.) who offers a wide range of music so that there's something for everybody – from German rap to Latino sounds."
The question about his fastest teammate was very interesting: "With football teams that's always a touchy subject (he laughs)," said Wirtz. "Over the first few metres Jerry is ahead but after that Moussa is definitely a contender."
At the end, the Leverkusen player revealed his tip for next Saturday's Bundesliga away game at TSG Hoffenheim (7 May – kick-off: 15.30 CEST) and he is certain: "We want to ensure qualification for the Champions League next season at the weekend. Therefore I'm predicting a 2-0 win."
Good news from the training ground: Karim Bellarabi and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were able to complete their first individual training sessions. Together with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin, the two worked on a range of passing drills. But they will not play again this season.
An impressive record: Werkself centre-forward Patrik Schick became the Werkself player from abroad to score the most goals in a season last weekend. His goal in the 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt was his 22nd in the current campaign.
The 26-year-old Czech Republic international puts former Leverkusen player Dimitar Berbatov into positions two and three. The Bulgarian striker scored 21 goals in 2005/06 and 20 the season before.
The top ten goal-getters from abroad:
1. Patrik Schick (2021/22 – 22 goals to date)
2. Dimitar Berbatov (2005/06 – 21)
3. Dimitar Berbatov (2004/05 – 20)
4. Bum-kun Cha (1985/86 – 17)
Paulo Sergio (1996/97 – 17)
Paulo Sergio (1993/94 – 17)
Chicharito (2015/16 – 17)
8. Dimitar Berbatov (2003/04 – 16)
Arne Larsen Ökland (1980/81 – 16)
10. Andrey Voronin (2004/05 – 15)
Bayer 04 are away to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off on Thursday 26 November at 18:45 CET at the Maksimir Stadium. All the information on ticket sales.
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It wasn’t just on the pitch that there was cause for celebration around the Werkself’s 2–1 home win against SC Freiburg. Plenty of happy faces could be seen near the dugouts at half-time too. Once again, CEO Fernando Carro, alongside former striker and club ambassador Stefan Kießling, paid tribute to eight supporters’ clubs celebrating up to their 30th anniversary on behalf of Bayer 04.
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It was a match that will live long in the memory of everyone involved: The Bayer 04 U19s celebrated their seventh win in seven matches in the DFB Youth League preliminary round – and yet it was a very special victory indeed: in the 4–3 (1–1) win at VfL Bochum 1848, no fewer than five goals came in the final quarter of an hour. As the 90th minute approached, coach Patrick Greveraars’s side found themselves behind, but then fought back in true ‘Laterkusen’ style.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
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