
A successful matchday for the Black and Reds: Not only was the result right in the home win against FC Augsburg but the team performance as well as individual displays by the Werkself players can be described as extremely successful. Moussa Diaby, Jeremie Frimpong, Mitchel Bakker, Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz and Lucas Alario were all considered for the top teams across the media.
Diaby received 04 nominations: The Frenchman scored his first hat-trick as a professional player with just four shots in the game against FCA and he was justly rewarded with inclusion in the Team of the Week in BILD, kicker, on the Sportschau and for the DFL. The football magazine kicker gave the hat-trick hero top marks and named him ‘Player of the Matchday’.
Jeremie Frimpong's appearance was marked by inclusion in the BILD, kicker and on the DFL website. With a total of 45 sprints and a top speed of 34.8 kmph, the 21-year-old produced the top stats in the game. He also earned a high 1.5 mark in kicker.
Midfield dynamo Robert Andrich and defender Mitchel Bakker were also considered. In addition, Bakker – like his teammates Diaby Frimpong – was included in the DFL ‘Team of the Week’. The Dutch defender provided the assist for the opener in the Leverkusen goal fest.
The BILD team of the matchday included the two Leverkusen players Lucas Alario and Florian Wirtz in addition to Diaby and Frimpong. The 18-year-old set a personal record of 102 touches of the ball. Carry on, lads.
Patrik Schick has every reason to be happy on his 26th birthday today: The Czech Republic centre forward, at Leverkusen since the summer of 2020, can spend his birthday with his family instead of on the pitch – the Werkself start training on Tuesday this week. Schick can also look back at an impressive record of 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches – no other Bayer 04 player has ever achieved that before at this point in the season. Here’s to further success in a Werkself shirt, Patrik. Enjoy your day and stay fit and healthy.
Black and Red birthday greetings are also sent to Kärnten: Robin Dutt, head coach of the Werkself from July 2011 to April 2012, today celebrates his 57th birthday. The Cologne-born coach has been at the helm of the Austrian club Wolfsberger AC since the summer and they are currently third in Austria's top-flight. Many happy returns to you, too.

Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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The Werkself host FC St. Pauli at the BayArena on matchday 22 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 14 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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