Three Werkself players were in action in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday night – and all were winners. Lukas Hradecky was in the Finland team that won 2-1 in Bulgaria. In spite of an early opener on seven minutes and a second goal in added time at the end of the first half, Finland still had work to do. On the hour mark, our number one was tested from twelve yards out. The Bulgarian Galin Ivanov aimed the spot-kick to the left but Hradecky made a great save. And that scene was repeated eight minutes later. Bulgaria were again awarded a penalty and this time Hradecky was helpless – he was unable to keep out the shot to the bottom left corner.
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger lined up for Austria against Northern Ireland in the match at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna with Dragovic being substituted on 46 minutes and Baumgartlinger on 78. The game ended in a 2-1 victory for Austria. The international break comes to an early end for Dragovic as a booking means he is suspended for Wednesday’s game against Norway.
Both national teams are still in the running in terms of the table: Finland have 12 points from five games in Group 4 in League B and are second behind Wales (13 points). The final clash between the top two teams is on Wednesday 18 November at 20.45 CET. The final Nations League game for Austria against Norway on Wednesday (20.45 CET) is about holding on to top spot. At the moment, Austria head Group 1, League B with twelve points ahead of Norway (9 points).
At the start of November, the Werkself were in Israel in the UEFA Europa League at the Israeli cup winners Hapoel Be’er Sheva (4-2). Bayer 04 TV filmed the players on the trip and were not only close-up at the European game at the HaMoshava Stadium (in Petach Tikva) but also there for the team’s arrival and departure plus immediately before and after the match. Fernando Carro, chairman of the board, also talks about the tour. Click HERE for the film (in German).
The Bayer 04 fan club Nordkurve 12 have launched a special campaign in Leverkusen: The new project bears the name ‘Leverkusen – Seite an Seite’ (side by side). The aim is to support small businesses, restaurateurs, artists and clubs during the pandemic.
This is how it works: The fan club has been selling T-shirts and tote bags for €10 each on their website since Sunday 15 November. NK12 produce the items at a cost price of €5 and the profit – also €5 – goes to the business that the purchaser or donor can choose for themselves. Log on to support restaurateurs, artists and clubs in our city.
A rare sight: Then BayArena will again be lit up in purple from 17.00 to 22.00 on Tuesday 17 November. Bayer 04 are making a colourful statement for the fifth time on World Prematurity Day. Under this year’s motto ‘Strong start for little heroes’, the team at the the mother and child centre at the Leverkusen Clinic are taking part in the worldwide information campaign on premature births and their consequences. Bayer 04 are showing solidarity with the doctors, nurses and parents of premature babies with the BayArena lit up in purple – buildings all over the world will also be lit up in purple at the same time including the Charité in Berlin, the Empire State Building in New York and the Niagara Falls in the USA/Canada.
Passion and emotion are part and parcel of football. The coronavirus pandemic and associated matches behind closed doors also play a part. The sentiments of fans are mostly found on the Internet. The result of a survey of around 250,000 contributions on Twitter in the month of October reveal that no club has been insulted online more than Schalke 04. One reason may be the results on the pitch: The Royal Blues have yet to secure a win this season. The study also shows the sporting success of clubs can mellow fans. With league leaders Bayern Munich, the insult rate is lowest at 0.5 per cent. Bayer 04 are just behind Bayern on 0.8 per cent. The Werkself are unbeaten in the new Bundesliga season and are currently fourth in the table.
Our former defender was 45 on Sunday – Bayer 04 wish Boris Zivkovic a belated happy birthday. The Croat played for the Werkself from 1997 to 2003 and he scored eleven goals and provided nine assist in 211 games. He was in the Champions League final in 2002. Zivkovic hung up his boots at the end of his playing career seven years later.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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During the first international break of the 2026/27 season, set to last just under three weeks, nine Bayer 04 first-team players are in action with their respective national teams. Read on for updates on matches featuring Werkself players…
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Austria or Kosovo? Claudia Wenger or Lumbardha Misini? Only one of these two Bayer 04 women will see her dream of competing at the World Cup in Brazil (24 June to 25 July 2027) live on beyond the next two weeks. From a Leverkusen perspective, the two direct clashes between the Werkself players as they battle for a place in the second play-off round stand out during the upcoming international break. For several other players, the chance of a World Cup place is also at stake. Bayer04.de provides an overview of the women’s international call-ups.
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