
Joel Pohjanpalo appears to be unlucky with injuries. On Sunday, the Finland team including Lukas Hradecky clocked up a 2-1 against Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League – an injury brought the game to an early end for Pohjanpalo on 35 minutes. A negative diagnosis followed on Monday, “a serious injury to the left ankle,” as announced by FC Union Berlin, where the striker is under contract to the end of the season. The 26-year-old will now undergo an operation and is set to be out of action for an extended period. A lot of Danger fans will be concerned when they hear ‘ankle’ and ‘Pohjanpalo’ in the same sentence as the striker was sidelined for 437 days on 2018/19. Back then, he suffered a protracted circulation problem in his right ankle. Keep your head up, Jolle! We wish you a speedy recovery.
The France U21s beat Switzerland 3-1 in a Euros qualifier on Monday night. Moussa Diaby came on for ‘Les Bleus’ on 82 minutes. The France U21s have not lost a single game in Group B of the qualifying rounds for the forthcoming European Championships. The team secured qualification for the Euros with a 5-0 victory over Liechtenstein in their previous group match. Bayer 04 teammate Edmond Tapsoba and his Burkina Faso side drew 0-0 with Malawi in an Africa Cup qualifier. Burkina Faso are currently top of Group B. There are still two games to play.
Germany are away to Spain in the Nations League on Tuesday night at 20.45 CET (live on ARD). The Werkself duo Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri are hoping to play in Seville. A win would seal top spot in the group for Germany in League A. Ahead of the clash, second-placed Spain, with eight points, are on the heels of Germany (nine points).
Today is also a matchday for Florian Wirtz and Lennart Grill. The Germany U21s play Wales in a Euro qualifier (18.15 CET, live on Pro7 Maxx). Germany are level on points with Wales. If Bosnia-Herzegovina help out by beating Belgium, then a win for the Germany U21s under Stefan Kuntz would put them top of Group 9.
The Bayer 04 eSports duo Kai ‘DETO’ Wollin and Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ De Cae are in action in matchdays 3 and 4 in the Virtual Bundesliga on Tuesday afternoon. From 16.30 CET the opponents are SC Paderborn 04 and 20.00 CET sees the start of the clash on the console with FC St. Pauli. For the start of the new VBL season, Wollin and De Cae clocked up two wins on the double matchday against Holstein Kiel and VfL Wolfsburg. Now the Black and Red duo are defending top spot in the table. Both matches are live on Twitch.
A Bayer 04 legend and honorary captain has his birthday! Bernd ‘Schnix’ Schneider is 47 today (Tuesday). The midfielder joined Bayer 04 in 1999 and played for the club for ten years. Schneider had his heyday under the Bayer Cross: In 2003/04, the now 47-year-old was one of the most prolific players in the Bundesliga with ten goals. He made 366 appearances for the Black and Reds and scored 52 goals – and 80 assists also deserve a mention. With the Werkself in 2002, he was runner-up in the league, DFB Cup and Champions League finalist. ‘The white Brazilian’ ended his playing career in 2009 and is now working as a players agent. Happy Birthday, Schnix!

The Germany U19 team were beaten 2-0 by record champions Spain in the final of the U19 European Championship in Wales. Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan at SV 07 Elversberg) were in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed France U17 international Kenan Doganay. The 1.90-metre-tall defensive midfielder, who has Turkish roots, joins Leverkusen from the U19s at French top-flight club Olympique Lyon. He will initially train with and play for the U19 team.
Show more
The Sports Tribunal of the German Football Association (DFB) has fined Bayer 04 Leverkusen €185,000 for spectators setting off pyrotechnic devices during a total of five competitive matches. This relates to four Bundesliga matches and the DFB Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich. The highest individual fine relates to the away match at FC Köln at the end of April.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
Show more