There were not as many plaudits as last week after the 4-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach but the performances of the Werkself players in the 4-1 win at Augsburg were again recognised in the football media. Jonathan Tah and Moussa Diaby were in the BILD Zeitung Team of the Day. And sportschau.de named Florian Wirtz in their matchday eleven. The substitute came on for Paulinho on 65 minutes, set up Patrik Schick (75') for the goal at 3-1 before scoring himself six minutes later for the final scoreline of 4-1.
That was the seventh Bundesliga goal for our number 27. At the age of 18 years, three months and 25 days Wirtz is now the youngest player in history the Bundesliga to reach that number. He has taken over from the previous record holder Timo Werner.
Part of that success probably goes down to head coach Gerardo Seoane and his team. Because Wirtz had problems with his lower back at the start of the season, the youngster was taken after training for ten days. "It was worth it," said Seoane who also added: "Confidence also comes through a healthy body."
In addition, Patrik Schick was highly rated by Werkself fans. In the vote for Man of the Match, presented by our kit supplier JAKO, he came out on top with 44.4% ahead of Florian Wirtz (24.3%), Jeremie Frimpong (16.3%) and Kerem Demirbay (15%). Supporters cast their votes on the Bayer 04 Twitter account after the Augsburg match. Schick will be able to enjoy his success in the Rhineland. The striker was sent off in the World Cup qualifier against Wales in March 2021 and is therefore suspended. That is why the striker has not joined his national team.
Seven points from three games – that puts the Werkself second in the Bundesliga table. Bayer 04 have only started a season better twice in their Bundesliga history: 2003 and 2013 produced the maximum nine points from three matchdays. For Kerem Demirbay this snapshot is no coincidence: "We’re on the right track. We are a unit," declared the playmaker before adding: "Something is coming together."
The last few days have been action-packed for Leverkusen's new signing Amine Adli: The 21-year-old signed a five year contract with Bayer 04 on Thursday, he trained for the first time with the squad on Friday and on Saturday the offensive player made his Bundesliga debut against FC Augsburg. Adli came within a hair's breadth of scoring his first Bundesliga goal but the FCA keeper Rafael Gikiewicz and the right-hand post put that achievement back.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen wish Dragoslav Stepanovic and Karl-Heinz Zickel many happy returns. Stepanovic, Werkself coach from 1993 to 1995, is 73 years old today (Monday). Zickel, who wore the Black and Red shirt for three years (1964-1967), is celebrating his 79th birthday.
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
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