He has simultaneously and quickly impressed both fans and experts: Mitchel Bakker, signed from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, shone from the start with his powerful and pacy game. He has scored one goal and provided two assists in six Bundesliga matches for the Werkself.
These impressive performances have secured the Leverkusen left-back a place in the trio of players nominated by the DFL for the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September. Bakker is joined by Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Omar Marmoush (VfB Stuttgart).
You can vote for the Werkself defender as the #BLRookie for the month of September up to Thursday, 7 October at 23.59 CEST. You can vote HERE. The final result is made up as follows: 40 per cent of the vote comes from the fans with 30 per cent each from the 18 team captains plus a range of experts.
Florian Wirtz made his debut for Germany at the start of September. The 18-year-old has won another three caps since then. There could be another two in the next few days. Hansi Flick has called up Wirtz to his squad for the forthcoming matches against Rumania (8 October) and North Macedonia (11 October).
The 56-year-old explained the reasons for selecting the Leverkusen player: “His goals return and his goal involvements are outstanding for his age,” said Flick. “He had good self-confidence. He’s in the right place when it counts.”
Ömer Toprak is back in Leverkusen – albeit for rehab. The central defender, who has played for Werder Bremen for the past two years, has recently suffered from multiple muscle problems. Toprak has missed the last three second division games.
The 32-year-old, at Bayer 04 from 2011 to 2017, has decided to continue his rehab in Leverkusen. Dr. Burak Yildirim, the Werkself team doctor and the medical team at Werder Bremen are in close contact. “It’s important for us to find the best way forward for every player,” said Werder head coach Markus Anfang on Tuesday. Anfang knows the set-up at the Werkstatt as he worked as a youth coach at Bayer 04 from January 2013 to June 2016.
This week the Bayer 04 Women are not only to be seen on the pitch but also heard off it: The Leverkusen players Verena Wieder and Kristin Kögel were guests on the women’s football podcast ‘Nicht schlecht, Frau Specht!’. In conversation with presenters Markus Trümper and Danny Fritz there are exceptional anecdotes as well as the current events in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga. Last season, listeners of this podcast were able to hear from Bayer 04 player Jessica Wich.
The current episode with the two black and red offensive players Wieder and Kögel goes online on Wednesday 6 October and is available on all the usual podcast platforms. The previous episodes of ‘Nicht schlecht, Frau Specht!’ are HERE.
Bayer 04 congratulates Exequiel Palacios on his 23rd birthday. The midfielder is currently away on international duty and is already in Argentina. He is completing his first training sessions with the Argentina national team. In discussion with the Albiceleste medical team, the recently injured Leverkusen player will focus on his rehab programme in the first week of training. In week two, Pala should be available for Argentina.
And several former Leverkusen players celebrate their birthdays on this Tuesday: Hans-Jürgen Scheinert is 67 years old. The defender made 163 appearances for Bayer 04 from 1975 to 1981 and scored 9 goals for the club. In 1978/79 he and his teammates secured promotion to the Bundesliga.
Bayer 04 also wish Robbie Kruse all the best on his 33rd birthday. The Australian wore the black and red shirt from 2013 to 2017. And another birthday boy: Christian Beer, at the club from 1979 to 1982, celebrates his 63rd birthday. Many happy returns.
Bayer 04 also remember former head coach Sascha Lewandowski who would have been 50 on Tuesday. Lewandowski was a coach with the Werkself for eight years, including five with the youth teams plus two as head coach of the Bundesliga team. Lewandowski passed away in 2016.
Matchday three in the league stage of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 takes Bayer 04 to Stade Brest. To be more exact to Guingamp where the game against the most westerly top-flight club in France will be played at the Stade de Roudouro on Wednesday, 23 October with the kick-off at 18.45 CEST. The match will be covered live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio. Up to then we will take you on the tour #aCROSSeurope and keep you up-to-date on the Werkself in Brittany.
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The Werkself face French club Stade Brest on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams won their first two games in Europe's premier club competition. Kick-off is at 18:45 CEST this evening, Wednesday 23 October, at the Stade du Roudourou (Guingamp). Catch up with key information ahead of the clash.
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Still unbeaten and now with seven points to their name: In the third match of the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League, Bayer 04 U19s earned a point at Stade Brest. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Kerim Alajbegovic put Leverkusen ahead (24'), but the French side equalised shortly before the break. After the break, Artem Stepanov had the best chance for the Werkself but his shot hit the post and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
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Bayer 04 are away to Stade Brest on Wednesday, 23 October (kick-off: 18.45 CEST at the Stade de Roudourou, live on DAZN) on matchday three in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the game, to be played in Guingamp, head coach Xabi Alonso and Martin Terrier spoke about their ambitions, the dangerous opponents as well as the personnel situation at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday night.
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