As usual, head coach Peter Bosz held several training sessions at Bismarckstraße this week but this time dispensed with an FKT (Football fitness training) session. In the shadows of the BayArena, the Dutchman and his fellow coaches worked hard preparing the team for the forthcoming Rhineland clash with the Foals: The Werkself are away to ninth-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 6 March. The kick off at BORUSSIA PARK is at 15.30 CET and Werks11 Radio will again start broadcasting 30 minutes before kick-off as usual.
Bayer04.de brings you impressions of the training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday – where the goalkeeper trio of Lennart Grill, Niklas Lomb and Marcel Johnen were working flat out in the absence through injury of first choice keeper Lukas Hradecky:
Before that, the Bayer 04 Women are in action: They open matchday 14 against FFC Turbine Potsdam on Friday night, 5 March (kick-off: 19.15 CET/live on Eurosport and MagentaSport). The preview not only contains information on the line-up as well as statements from head coach Achim Feifel but also a link to the Rasenreport magazine. This free online matchday programme provides further details on the clash with the team from Potsdam. Click HERE for the preview.
As VfL Wolfsburg announced on Thursday via Twitter, the long-standing VfL scout Rudi Wojtowicz is in an induced coma. The 64-year-old, who played for the Werkself from 1982 to 1986, collapsed on his way to watching an opposing team. "Our thoughts are with you – fight, Rudi!," was the message from Wolfsburg. We fully concur with that!
A long-standing number one goalkeeper at the Werkself celebrates his 29th birthday: Bayer 04 congratulate Bernd Leno on his birthday and wish him continuing success in the Premier League with Arsenal.
Leno came through the youth ranks at VfB Stuttgart but the 1.90 metre tall keeper made the step up to professional football under the Buyer Cross. Having arrived on loan in the summer of 2011, Bayer 04 made the deal permanent six months later. In the following six and a half years at the Werkself, Leno clocked up an impressive 304 appearances – after Rüdiger Vollborn the second highest number of games of all the goalkeepers in the history of Bayer 04. He joined Arsenal in 2018 and is still between the sticks for the London club.
Landon Donovan was at Leverkusen somewhat longer before Bernd Leno. The striker joined the Werkself from USA club IMG Bradenton Academics in 1999. Initially he played for the Leverkusen second team and then for the senior side for a number of years. Donovan only played seven games for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga with his most successful time coming later with LA Galaxy. To date, he is one of six USA players to run out for the Werkself. Donovan is 39 years old this Thursday and Bayer 04 send congratulations across the big pond.
Like Donovan at the American second division club San Diego Loyal, another birthday boy is now a head coach: Cottbus head coach Dirk Lottner celebrates his birthday on Thursday and is now 49 years old. Born in Cologne, he played for the Werkself from 1997 to 1999. After hanging up his boots in 2007 and going on to coach at FC Köln, Hansa Rostock and FC Saarbrücken, Lottner has been at the helm of fourth division Energie Cottbus since September of last year. And many happy returns to you too, Dirk – stay fit and healthy.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
Show more
After nine points from their first three away matches of the 2026/27 season, the Bayer 04 Women suffered their first away defeat on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 defeat away to FC Nürnberg, who were winless before today, represented a setback for coach Roberto Pätzold’s team in the race for the top spots in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Fany Pronietz scored both goals (62’, 85’) for the home side.
Show more
The Werkself still have a score to settle with TSG Hoffenheim: Bayer 04 lost both matches against the Kraichgau side last term – after the Black and Reds had won all the previous five encounters. Leverkusen are currently on a roll and looking to kick off a new winning streak against TSG in Sinsheim on Sunday 25 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET), and Patrik Schick is keen to continue his current run of form. However, it will not be easy, as coach Christian Ilzer’s team have also gained confidence recently. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
A look at the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga table ahead of the Werkself's clash at 1. FC Nürnberg leaves little discussion: Bayer 04 Women go into Sunday's meeting at the Max-Morlock-Stadion (16:00 CEST) as clear favourites. Coach Roberto Pätzold explains what's needed for the fourth-placed team against the second-from-bottom in order to make it four wins from four away matches this season.
Show more
Bayer 04 march on! On the Greek holiday island of Crete, the Werkself made it three wins from three games in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase against Greek Cup winners OFI Crete. Carles Martínez's side put on an attacking display with a total of 33 attempts, while one player in particular stood out with a brace. At the same time, they kept another clean sheet in Europe. All the reaction and analysis of the 2-0 victory in the Werkself Review.
Show more
