Without the nine players on international duty plus Leon Bailey, who is still in quarantine after a private party, the Werkself were led out for the only pre-season friendly by the new captain Charles Aránguiz. The visitors came into the game with plenty of match practice – the Belgian league started at the beginning of August. The results to date for the team eighth in the league: one win, three draws.
Bayer 04 made the better start in the friendly. Exequiel Palacios put the Werkself ahead on six minutes with a curler from ten yards out. Anderlecht did compete well and the game developed into an evenly-balanced encounter. Mohammed Dauda scored the equaliser for RSC in the middle of the first half. The Ghanaian beat Niklas Lomb in goal for Bayer 04 against the Belgians in place of Lukas Hradecky as the Finn is away on international duty (21’). The goalscorer had the chance to put his side ahead a quarter of an hour later but he put his shot just past the right-hand post. It was all-square at half-time.
Head coach Peter Bosz made two changes to his line-up at the break: Florian Wirtz came on for goalscorer Palacios, Wendell replaced Daley Sinkgraven at left-back. The 17-year-old Wirtz led the way in livening up the attack. Also due to the intensive training sessions of the past few days, there were few decent goalscoring opportunities for the Werkself in the second half. As Anderlecht were also unable to find the back of the net, the match ended in a deserved draw.
“It was a very good friendly against a strong team,” said Bosz after the game. “That was fun. Of course, they are much further on as they’ve already played four matches. But we did a good job. I’m happy.”
The Werkself are back in competitive action next week in the first round of the DFB Cup. On Sunday, 13 September (kick-off: 15.30 CET/live on Sky and Werks11 Radio), the Regional League North outfit Eintracht Norderstedt visit the BayArena.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Lomb – L. Bender (Weiser 68’), S. Bender (Retsos 68’), Tapsoba, Sinkgraven (Wendell 46’) – Aránguiz (Türkmen 89’), Demirbay – Bellarabi, Palacios (Wirtz 46’), Amiri – Alario (Onur 89’)
Goals: 1-0 Palacios (6’), 1-1 Dauda (21’)
After the first win of the season against 1. FC Union Berlin (4-0) last weekend, the Werkself are aiming to collect another three points at FC Augsburg on Saturday 12 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST). The hosts, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign and go into Matchday 3 top of the table for the first time. The Matchday News.
Show more
The Werkself are away to FC Augsburg on matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game at the WWK Arena against the current – and for the first time – league leaders of the German top flight is on Saturday 12 September at 15:30 CEST. Ahead of the match, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about this week’s training and the team’s approach to the fixture, as they face an opponent brimming with confidence. The Spaniard also addressed a number of squad matters.
Show more
FC Augsburg are top of the table for the first time in their Bundesliga history. After two wins for starters, FCA lead the German top-flight with six points and a goal difference of 7 to 1. This Saturday, 12 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), Augsburg are looking to build on their strong start to the season against the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Following the closure of the 2026 summer transfer window, the Bayer 04 men's and women's first teams lined up for a first-ever joint photo at the BayArena. Werkself fans can now download the official photos for free.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women will be without captain Carolin Simon and striker Valentina Mädl over the coming weeks. Both players missed last Friday's 2-1 Bundesliga win at TSG Hoffenheim because of muscle injuries.
Show more
