Maximum support for the Werkself: A total of 500 fans will support the team under head coach Gerardo Seoane at the away game at Mainz on Friday night, 18 February (kick-off: 20.30 CET). Bayer 04 have sold the whole allocation of away tickets.
The Seoane team go into the match against Mainz on the back of four league wins in succession with the most recent a 4-2 home victory over VfB Stuttgart. Following another impressive attacking performance from the Black and Reds, youngster Florian Wirtz has been included in the top teams of the matchday in BILD and kicker. The football journal gave the 18-year-old a high mark of two as did the Rheinische Post and the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Kai Havertz scored the winner for Chelsea in last summer's Champions League final against Manchester City. The homegrown Bayer 04 player kept his nerve in the biggest game of his career to date when he was through in a one-on-one with the City keeper. Havertz rounded Ederson and scored the only goal of the game.
The 22-year-old, who developed into a world-class player in his ten years at Leverkusen, was in another final with Chelsea at the weekend. The Premier League club faced the Brazilian team Palmeiras, winners of the South American Copa Libertadores, in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. With the score at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time with Havertz again keeping his nerve as he scored the winner from the penalty spot on 117 minutes. Congratulations Kai.
Another Werkself homegrown player had every reason to celebrate at the weekend. Benjamin Henrichs, at Leverkusen from 2004 to 2018, was a winner with RB Leipzig at FC Köln. Ahead of the 3-1 victory, with the 24-year-old playing the full 90 minutes, the Germany international got in the mood for the clash on the Rhine with the following words on social media: "It's a derby for me – let's go!" Congratulations on the 'derby win', Benni.
The clubs in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga have unanimously voted against exclusion from the German Football Association (DFB) and voted in favour of the formulation of an amendment. The target is sustainable professionalisation of the first and second divisions under the DFB, above all "quick and sustainable development" in the areas of marketing, media and matchday operations. The amendment, drawn up in recent weeks, has now been finalised and is to be presented to the general meeting of the DFB on 11 March.
A wonder goal: 15 years ago today, on 14 February 2007, Bernd Schneider scored a back-heel goal against Blackburn Rovers in the Round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. The goal putting Leverkusen 3-1 up (final score 3-2) was voted Goal of the Month on ARD Sportschau. You can see the goal again HERE.
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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