Bayer 04 have two games to play this term. After the goalless draw at Bremen and the day off at the start of the week, the focus of captain Charles Aránguiz and Co. will be completely on the next match from Tuesday – and it promises to be a good one: On Saturday, 15 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), Union Berlin visit the BayArena. A win against the team in eighth place would put the Werkself in the Europa League next season. To ensure the best possible preparation, head coach Hannes Wolf will hold training sessions every day this week.
Players, coaches and staff can still sleep at home with their families. Following training on Wednesday, the quarantine training camp decided by the German Football League (DFL) will start. In the period up to the last game of the season at Borussia Dortmund (22 May), the Bayer 04 team and staff will stay at the Lindner Hotel BayArena and be on the training ground.
Germany team doctor Tim Meyer believes it is realistic to see fans back for the start of the next Bundesliga season. “It definitely won’t be 100 per cent full straight away but hopefully games behind closed doors will not be needed if we assume the predictions regarding the infections are correct,” according to the head of the sports medicine/ special match in the Welt am Sonntag.
Regarding the start of the 2021/22 season on 13 August, Meyer said: “I hope and believe the protective measures can be significantly reduced next season.” The basis for the return of fans to stadiums is reduced incidence and, above all, a high rate of vaccinations.
Do you remember? Exactly eleven years ago, the farewell game for Bernd ‘Schnix’ Schneider was staged at the BayArena. Pure excitement, emotional words, numerous contemporaries on the pitch and 20,000 frenetic Werkself fans – it was a perfect stage for the last performance by our legendary number 25. HERE is the report from Bayer 04 TV again.
One year before Bernd Schneider joined Leverkusen, a certain Christian Wörns left the Werkself in 1998. The Mannheim-born player held the Leverkusen defence together for seven years. Wörns was in the Bayer 04 team that won the DFB Cup in 1993. He ended his playing career in 2008 and is now the coach of the Germany U19 team. Bayer 04 wish Wörns many happy returns on his 49th birthday.
The former Werkself head coach Jupp Heynckes celebrated his 76th birthday on Sunday. He was the Bayer 04 coach from 2009 to 2011. Belated congratulations, Don Jupp!
The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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