The 75-minute appearance in the 4-1 home win against TSG Hoffenheim was the last in 2020 for Lars Bender. The vice-captain was due to play at right-back in the following away game at FC Köln (4-0) but suffered an injury in the warm-up. The 31-year-old, who is set to hang up his boots in the summer like his brother Sven Bender, has been forced to watch from the sidelines since then.
Lars Bender rejoined his team-mates for the first time on Monday following rehab and individual sessions during the festive season. And left-back Daley Sinkgraven also took part in the first session of the week after recovering from a Covid-19 infection with a period of self-isolation. Hopes are high that the duo will be back in the first team squad for the next home game against Werder Bremen on Saturday 9 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET).
In his four years under the Bayer Cross, Christoph Daum three times led the Werkself to finish runners-up in the Bundesliga. The 67-year-old was at the helm at Leverkusen from 1996 to October 2000 – and he made a lasting impression on the supporters. In the votes for the Bundesliga All-Stars 2019, he gained the most votes from Bayer 04 fans amongst all the coaches.
Daum recently talked about a current and a former player of his former club from Leverkusen in an interview with Sport1. He deemed comparisons between the youngsters Florian Wirtz, who has been at the Werkself for one year, and Kai Havertz (Chelsea) to be misplaced. Daum: "I can't stand hearing it. Wirtz is not a new Havertz. Please let the lad develop and don't immediately make him the new Havertz and next superstar."
The 17-year-old Germany U21 international does have great potential but should "go his own way and develop his own style." Wirtz is an "incredibly talented player and should be given time," added Daum.
The 18-months at Leverkusen represent a section of his already impressive career that Toni Kroos would not like to forget. In 2018, the central midfield player, who has now been at Real Madrid for six years, said to SPORT BILD: "I've got very good memories of Leverkusen and I'm grateful I had the chance there to improve and perform consistently. It was an incredibly important time in my career."
Born in Greifswald, Kroos joined Bayer 04 on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2009 and he went on to make 43 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Reds before returning to Munich. The 2014 World Cup winner celebrates his 31st birthday on Monday. Bayer 04 wish Toni: happy birthday!
Bayer 04 TV bring you the best goals, assists and magic moments from our former number 39 in a Werkself shirt. Watch the video HERE.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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