After over 24 hours of uncertainty for Charles Aránguiz and Co. the South American Football Association CONMEBOL has provided clarity: The Copa América, with the Werkself players Charles Aránguiz (Chile) plus Lucas Alario and Exequiel Palacios (Argentina) on the road with their national teams, will now take place – in Brazil. Due to the worsening of the pandemic in the original host countries of Argentina and Colombia, the two countries were no longer considered as venues for the continental tournament so that CONMEBOL were forced to take immediate action. The Copa América will be played from 13 June to 10 July.
The former Werkself player Arturo Vidal was also due to play in World Cup qualifiers and take part in the Copa América with Chile. Due to a Covid-19 infection, the 34-year-old has now been admitted to a clinic in the Chilean capital of Santiago de Chile with a fever and swollen glands. All the players in the Chile squad, including Charles Aránguiz, received the coronavirus vaccination last Friday. Vidal, currently at Inter Milan, will at least miss the World Cup qualifiers for his home country against Argentina and Bolivia. Bayer 04 wish you a speedy recovery, Arturo.
From the South American to the European continent: The two Werkself players Florian Wirtz and Lennart Grill are in the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship with the Germany U21s. The team under head coach Stefan Kuntz progressed in a dramatic quarter-final against Denmark with an 8-7 victory on penalties. The opponents in the semi-final on Thursday, 3 June (kick-off: 21.00 CEST) are the Netherlands who went through in the quarter-finals against the France U21 team including Moussa Diaby.
Planning for the fixture lists for the Bundesliga and second division is at a key stage. As announced by the German Football League (DFL) today (Tuesday), the fixtures for the 34 matchdays in Germany's top two divisions will be announced on the DFL website on Friday 25 June.
Bayer 04 are gaining another cup winner for the new season: VfL Wolfsburg keeper, Friederike Abt, who will play for the Werkself next season, won the Women's DFB Cup with the Wolves last Sunday. Abt replaced the Wolfsburg keeper Almuth Schult in extra time after she was sent off. The Werkself keeper to be kept a clean sheet in the Wolfsburg goal for the rest of the match and was able to celebrate a 1-0 victory in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Javier Hernández, better known as Chicharito, which translates as 'Little Pea', celebrates his 33rd birthday today (Tuesday). The lively Mexican, who played for the Werkself between 2015 and 2017, made 76 appearances for Leverkusen, scored 39 goals and provided nine assists and he quickly became a real favourite of Black and Red supporters. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Chicharito!
Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
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A first for the Werkself: Today, Thursday 15 October (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), Bayer 04 face Lech Poznan for the first time on matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League group. Although the Black and Reds have a flawless record against the only Polish opposition faced before, they must not underestimate the attacking ability and goal-scoring threat of the reigning champions from Poznan. Lech’s squad also includes two former Bundesliga players. Today's matchday news.
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Some 30 years on since their last European fixture in Poland, Bayer 04 cross the border for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash against Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase on Thursday (kick-off: 18:45 CEST). Ahead of a first-ever meeting with Lech, head coach Carles Martínez and winger Nathan Tella spoke in Poznan about special memories and objectives.
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The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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