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.
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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