News in brief: Top marks and get-well wishes

At the beginning of the week there are marks from the sports media in Germany as a rule. Kicker and Co. assess the performances of the players at the Bundesliga stadiums. And even if players mostly deny that they read them, they generally get to hear about them and it's always worth a look. Above all, after a result like the 4-0 win against the Foals from the Lower Rhine – there were a large number of top marks for the Werkself.

5 in the Kicker team of the matchday

Five players are in the Kicker Team of the Matchday: Lukas Hradecky, Jeremie Frimpong, Mitchel Bakker, Exequiel Palacios and Moussa Diaby who was also named as the player of the matchday. In the BILD there are 04 players who appear in their top team on matchday two: Hradecky, Bakker, Palacios and Diaby. The ARD Sportschau 'only' includes two: Bakker and Diaby. Exactly like the DFL, who have Bakker and Hradecky in their Team of the Week. There is only one thing to say to all the players mentioned – the plaudits are all completely deserved.

Heroes of the Match – the Fans

And this recognition is also apt. JAKO and Bayer 04 normally name the Man of the Match after every matchday. But after the 4-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the people in charge made the decision: "Instead of a Man of the Match the award after this game clearly goes: TO YOU! Heroes of the Match – the fans!"

Training starts on tuesday

And as is generally the case, anybody who produces a performance should also get a reward. Albeit the training plan for this week was already determined before the Gladbach gala performance. The players already had Monday off. Some did appear for treatment at the BayArena but the training pitches remain empty until Tuesday.

Bakker apologises to Lainer

Mitchel Bakker will be on the training ground after his outstanding debut at the BayArena despite being involved in very painful incident. In a challenge on the edge of the penalty area, the new signing from Paris St. Germain managed to get the tip of his left boot to the ball but then caught his opponent Stefan Lainer on the ankle. Bakker deservedly picked up a yellow card. The bitter diagnosis a day after the match: The Borussia right-back suffered a broken ankle and faces a long time on the sidelines. Bakker made contact with Lainer after the final whistle and apologised for the foul. He wished him a speedy recovery and he hopes Lainer will soon be back on the pitch. We join in with those wishes.

DFB cup and Europa League draws

In the Bundesliga we know what's next – on Sunday, 28 August, the Werkself are away to FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund visit the BayArena a week later, but which opponents await Hradecky and Co. in the Europa League and the DFB Cup? We will know more in a week's time. UEFA will hold the draw for the group stage at lunchtime on Friday, 27 August, in Istanbul; the DFB follow on two days later. The second round of the cup will be drawn on the ARD Sportschau on Sunday, 29 August, at 18.30 CEST.

Schwaab and Wirtz celebrate birthdays

We round off Monday with happy birthday wishes. One hand, Juliane Wirtz was 20 years old yesterday (Sunday). The sister of Florian has played for Bayer 04 since 2018 and, in her role in defence last season, she contributed to the women's team finishing fifth and attaining the best Bundesliga position in the history of the club.

Daniel Schwaab was a runner-up with the Werkself – in 2010. The player, who came from near to Freiburg, wore the Bayer 04 shirt from 2009 to 2013. He then went on to play for three years at VfB Stuttgart followed by four seasons with PSV Eindhoven. He retired from professional football in the summer of 2020 and today celebrates his 33rd birthday. Bayer 04 wish Juliane and Daniel many happy returns.