The team led by head coach Peter Bosz are preparing for the second Bundesliga home game in succession in icy temperatures. FSV Mainz 05 are the visitors on Saturday, 13 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET). The limited number of persons permitted at the BayArena due to the coronavirus pandemic will include Joachim ‘Jogi’ Löw.
This will be the first visit by the Germany coach to a match at Leverkusen since the start of the pandemic. The reason: The DFL hygiene protocol did not allow members of the DFB management to attend Bundesliga games until a few matchdays ago.
Löw’s assistant coach Marcus Sorg was at the BayArena last weekend for the 5-2 home win for the Werkself against VfB Stuttgart.
Florian Wirtz has been playing for Bayer 04 for just over a year. His development during this time is more than impressive: Joining from the youth set-up at FC Köln, the technically gifted offensive player quickly convinced head coach Peter Bosz of his ability. After nine first team appearances in the 2019/20 season and the departure of Kai Havertz to Chelsea in the summer, the management at Bayer 04 looked to play Wirtz in an attacking midfield role – and the 17-year-old has repaid that confidence with a lot of good performances.
The youngster, born in Pulheim, has made 24 appearances this season. Thanks to his goal against Stuttgart – his seventh this term – Wirtz is the only U18 player to have scored five goals in the Bundesliga. Reason enough for transfermarkt.de to increase the market value of the Werkself player. For last year's winner of the gold Fritz Walter Medal that meant an increase from €24-€45 million. Wirtz is now the most valuable 17-year-old worldwide.
Wirtz is nowhere near the only Leverkusen player whose market value has risen according to recent Bundesliga updates from transfermarkt.de. Central defender Edmond Tapsoba is now worth €40 million (+10 million), the two wingers Moussa Diaby (+ 2 to 38 million) and Leon Bailey (+5.5 to 35 million) have also seen an increase. Other adjustments: Nadiem Amiri (+6 to 22 million), new signing Jeremie Frimpong (+6 to 10 million) and Daley Sinkgraven (+1.5 to 9 million).
The youth players Emrehan Gedikli, Cem Tuna Türkmen and Samed Onur have also been given a market value for the first time in their careers. The 17-year-old centre forward Gedikli is rated at €750,000 and the two 18-year-old midfielders at €400,000.
Last weekend, Moussa Diaby posed huge problems to the Stuttgart defence with his inimitable tempo. The France U21 international provided the assists at 3-1 and 4-1 and thereby played a big part in the 5-2 home win. The games manufacturer EA Sports has rewarded the performance of the Werkself player with a place in the Team of the Week 20 on FIFA Ultimate Team. Congratulations, Moussa.
At the age of 19, Jonathan Tah joined Bayer 04 from Hamburg SV in 2015. Since then, the imposing central defender at the Werkself has developed into a regular starter and he has also played for the national team. 'Jona' is 25 years old today (Thursday). Congratulations on your big day.
The Hamburg-born defender could have a second reason to celebrate this week if he plays against Mainz 05: It would be his 150th Bundesliga appearance for Leverkusen.
Two other former Werkself players celebrate their birthdays on this Thursday. Markus Happe, DFB Cup winner in 1993, is 49 today. Ralf Falkenmayer, UEFA Cup winner in 1988, has his 58th birthday. Bayer 04 wish both many happy returns.
The Werkself need a win in their penultimate match of the season at RB Leipzig on Monday evening (18:00 CEST) to keep their hopes of third place alive until the final day. After Eintracht Frankfurt lost on Saturday, Roberto Pätzold's side can close the gap on their rivals to two points and leave it all to play for next Sunday.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-3 loss at VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 33 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
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Down to fifth from fourth place despite taking an early lead: in the head-to-head for a Champions League spot, Bayer 04 were 1-0 up at VfB Stuttgart with just a minute played thanks to an Aleix Garcia strike, but ultimately lost 3-1 (2-1) to the more determined hosts. It meant the Swabians leapfrogged the Werkself in the Bundesliga table on the penultimate matchday.
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Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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