Werkself player Exequiel Palacios was on the winning side for Argentina in the clash between the Copa América winners and the European champions with a 3-0 victory over Italy on Wednesday night. While it is the second Finalissima title for La Albiceleste from South America following on from 1993, Palacios had the trophy in his hands for the first time at Wembley Stadium. The 23-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute on 75 minutes.
For Palacios, at Leverkusen since January 2020, it is his second title for Argentina since winning the COPA America last year. At club level with the top-flight Argentinian side River Plate, he has already won the national cup (2017 and 2019) plus the South American equivalent of the Champions League in 2018. The Werkself number 25 has made 19 full international appearances to date and 52 for the Black and Reds. Congratulations, Pala.
Werkself players are in action for their countries in the next few days. Mitchel Bakker makes a start from a Black and Red perspective before the weekend with the Netherlands U21s in a Euros qualifier against Moldova (Friday 3 June, 18.45 CEST).
Two hours after the kick-off in the U21 Euros qualifier comes the game for France with Moussa Diaby against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League. From 21.00 CEST Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) and Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast) have their first matches in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations.
In the night from Friday to Saturday, Ecuador with Piero Hincapie have a friendly against Nigeria (kick-off: 02.30 CEST), and on Saturday night there are the Nations League games for Germany with Jonathan Tah against Italy as well as for Finland with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Here are the upcoming internationals involving Leverkusen players.
A great honour for Heung-min Son: The former Werkself player (2013 to 2015) receives the highest sporting award in his home country South Korea on this Thursday afternoon. The 29-year-old star striker who has played for the top English club Tottenham Hotspur since his move from Bayer 04 in 2015 received the Cheongnyong medal from state president Yoon Suk-Yeol ahead of the international against Brazil (1-5). The former Leverkusen player became the first Asian player to be top goalscorer in the Premier League with 23 goals in 35 league matches.
Today (Thursday), Paulo Sergio, the most prolific Brazilian in a Werkself shirt, celebrates his 53rd birthday – Bayer 04 wish many happy returns. Paulo Sérgio Silvestre do Nascimento, his full name, made 121 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Reds (47 goals) from 1993 to 1997. After his four years at Leverkusen, the 1994 World Cup winner moved on to AS Roma and then Bayern Munich.
Today is also the birthday of former Leverkusen player Fredrik Stenman (February 2006 to June 2007 – 28 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04), who is now 39 years old. The third birthday boy is the 45-year-old Iranian Dariush Yazdani, Who played at Leverkusen in the second half of the 1998/99 season making one appearance for the Black and Reds. Many happy returns to you too.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss at VfL Wolfsburg on the 20th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bundesliga home game against VfL Wolfsburg in the first half of the season was one of those classic ‘days to forget’ for Bayer 04 Women. It started with goalkeeper Charlotte Voll being shown a red card in the first minute of the game, and following a further sending-off, coach Roberto Pätzold's 9-women side ended up losing 5-1 to last season's runners-up. At 18.30 CET on Sunday, they'll have the chance to exact revenge at the AOK Stadium - and pick up valuable points in the race for third place.
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After full time in the 1-1 draw against FC Bayern Munich, the Bayer 04 fans first had to catch their breath. Firstly because of their usual loud support, and secondly because of the great drama they'd witnessed on the pitch: three disallowed goals, two red cards and a Werkself side who "again produced a very good performance against strong opponents", as head coach Kasper Hjulmand described. The Dane was particularly enthused by the performance of young Montrell Culbreath, while Patrik Schick got to enjoy his 200th appearance under the Cross. The Werkself Review unpacks the action.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against FC Bayern Munich on Matchday 26 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
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Bayer 04 were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bayern Munich in an eventful Matchday 26 fixture in the Bundesliga. Aleix Garcia had given the Werkself the lead inside six minutes, but Bayern levelled in the second half through Luis Diaz, despite Nicolas Jackson having been send off before the break. Diaz was then dismissed himself as Leverkusen pushed for a winner, which failed to materialise as Jonas Hofmann saw a late goal ruled out.
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