Bayer 04 will have to manage without Kerem Demirbay for another two games in the Europa League. The midfielder was shown a red card in the closing stages of the 4-0 home win against Real Betis early in November. UEFA confirmed the three-match ban on Tuesday evening. Demirbay will only be available to the Werkself for the second leg of the Round of 16 tie in March 2022 .
The 28-year-old will miss the last match in Group G against Ferencváros (9 December) as well as the Round of 16 first leg in the middle of March of next year. Bayer 04 are certain of finishing top of the group that means Demirbay and Co. will proceed straight to the last 16.
Sporting managing director Rudi Völler is in favour of using former players in support of VAR match officials. "I'm now of the opinion that a former player could possibly be helpful with his experiences in many situations," said the 61-year-old to Sport Bild. Völler played over 650 games at club level that included winning the champions league in 1993 with Olympique Marseille. The former world class striker won the World Cup with Germany in 1990 and played for the Werkself between 1994 and 1996.
The mood of Jeremie Frimpong and Amine Adli could hardly be better at the moment: The Bayer 04 youngsters have been in the starting line-up in the past five games – and played a considerable part in securing four wins and a draw. Adli won three points for the Werkself with his first Bundesliga goal in the 1-0 win against VfL Bochum. His teammate followed suit last weekend with his first goal in Germany's top-flight in a 3-1 victory at RB Leipzig.
Following the win against RB, the U21 international players Frimpong (Netherlands) and Adli (France) together watched Frimpong's celebration in the game in Leipzig – and they had a lot to laugh at. Click HERE for the video.
It was one of the crucial moments in the home game against Bochum: the sliding tackle from Jonathan Tah on Takuma Asano. The Bochum player was about to shoot from the penalty spot but our key defender arrived at the last minute to put in a sliding tackle to maintain the 1-0 lead. A really important and impressive move that deservedly won the award for Save of the Month for November powered by iLOQ. Congratulations, Jona! HERE is a video of the clearance made by our number 4.
1 December 1979 is firmly fixed in the Bayer 04 history books as an historic event happened on that Saturday afternoon at the Park Stadium in Gelsenkirchen: The Werkself were the visitors at the then seven-time German champions FC Schalke 04. Matchday 15 in the first Bundesliga season in the club's history finally brought the first away win in the top-flight away to the Royal Blues.
Peter Szech scored both goals in the 2-0 victory and he was the matchwinner for the team coached by Wilibert Kremer. That victory was exactly 42 years ago and since then there have been 235 other Bundesliga wins for the Black and Reds on the road to date. Here's to many more!
As a comparison: In the current season, the Werkself already had 04 wins from 13 games away from home and are still unbeaten away from the BayArena. Bayer 04 are currently top of the away form table with 15 points.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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