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.
After back-to-back away defeats, Bayer 04 Women now face their penultimate home fixture of 2026 as they welcome Hamburg to the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Saturday (14:00 CET) seeking three important points in the Google Pixel Bundesliga.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and what matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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After three consecutive wins in the Europa League, the Werkself suffered their first European defeat of the season against Marseille. In a first half with few chances, the Black and Reds gradually gained more and more control of the game, but were unable to convert that advantage into goals. Miguel Gutiérrez came closest to putting Leverkusen ahead with a shot that hit the crossbar. In the second half, the French side produced clinical finishing, with Amine Gouiri scoring from a counter-attack to make it 1-0 (77’). Right up to the final whistle, the Werkself threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but were unable to find a way back into the game.
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Bayer 04 are riding a wave of success on the European stage: After three wins from their first three games and as the only team yet to concede a goal, the Werkself sit second in the table in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. With another three points in their first-ever competitive match against Olympique Marseille on Thursday night, 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Bayer 04 could leap to the top of the table. Meanwhile, the French side are riding the wave of a winning streak in Ligue 1, but are yet to pick up any points in the Europa League. For one Werkself player, Thursday night will mark a reunion with his former team-mates. Today’s matchday news.
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The Bundesliga has finalised the fixtures for matchdays 12 to 18 of the 2026/27 season. Here is an overview of the dates.
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