While the players in the starting line-up for the victory at BVB began the week on exercise bikes or at a recovery session at the BayArena, a total of 13 Werkself players were back on the pitch on Tuesday morning.
Three Bayer 04 players took important steps on their way back to rejoining the squad: Daley Sinkgraven completed a full session with the team for the first time since his muscle injury. Depending on the how the week progresses for the Dutchman, a return to the squad for the next game against VfB Stuttgart could well be realistic. The Werkself entertain the Swabians in a night match on Saturday 12 February – the kick-off is at 18.30 CET.
Julian Baumgartlinger is also on the way back following his cruciate injury: The Austria international was able to complete a large number of passing drills. Exequiel Palacios was able to make several challenges with the coaching staff seeing how Pala reacts to the workload as head coach Gerardo Seoane explained after the training session.
Edmond Tapsoba will return to the Werkself on Wednesday afternoon: The 23-year-old has been in action with Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations where he played the full 90 minutes in six games. Head coach Seoane believes the Werkself number 12 will be fully available immediately.
Lukas Hradecky has to remain patient: The captain has not yet tested negative for Covid-19. The goalkeeper is keeping himself fit in his own four walls. It remains to be seen whether our number one will be able to play in goal against Stuttgart.
New signing Sardar Azmoun is currently working on stabilisation and fitness training in close discussion with the medical department following his ligament injury. While the 27-year-old did not have any problems after his first running session, the Iran international complained of pain with different shooting drills.
"With the situation that Patrik Schick and Lucas Alario are both completely fit, we’re in a good position and are able to give Sardar the necessary amount of time," said Seoane who believes the new signing will make his first appearance in a couple of weeks.
The former Werkself player Hakan Çalhanoğlu today celebrates his 28th birthday. The Turkey international played for the Black and Reds from 2014 to 2017 making 115 appearances across all competitions, scoring 28 times and providing 29 assists. The midfielder has been at Inter Milan since the summer of 2021.
Congratulations also go to Renato Augusto – he is now 34. The Brazilian midfielder joined Leverkusen in 2008 from his hometown club Flamengo Rio de Janeiro and he spent four years with the Werkself. He scored 12 goals in 126 games. The midfielder then returned to South America to join his current club Corinthians São Paulo where he is still playing after a spell in China from January 2016 to the summer of 2021.
The birthday list continues: Former Werkself head coach Bruno Labbadia is 55 today. Labbadia took over the position of head coach at Leverkusen for one season after managing second division SpVgg Greuther Fürth. He went on to join Hamburg SV after a season with the Werkself.
Many happy to returns to you too, Uwe Stöver. During his time as a player, Stöver joined Bayer 04 in 1989 from Cronenberger SC. The Wuppertal-born player went on to win the DFB Cup with the Werkself in 1992/1993. Stöver has been the sporting director and vice president at second division Holstein Kiel since 2019.
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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The Bayer 04 Women’s squad for the coming season is continuing to take shape: Centre-back Emily Wallrabenstein has moved to Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserve team, who play in the Women’s Bundesliga 2. The 19-year-old has penned a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayern 04 Women have confirmed another summer signing, with midfielder Paulina Platner moving to Leverkusen from SGS Essen. The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Werkself.
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