The 19-year-old is currently playing for the Selecao U23s at the South American qualification tournament for the Olympics in Tokyo. For starters, Brazil beat Peru on Monday thanks to the only goal of the game scored by Paulinho. Early on Thursday (02.30 CET), Uruguay were the opponents in Colombia – and once again Paulinho and Co. were the winners in a 3-1 victory. The Leverkusen player started the game and was substituted on 67 minutes with the scoreline at 2-0.
RB Leipzig's Matheus Cunha scored from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark to make it 2-0. Brazil are top of Group B after the two wins. Next Wednesday, they take on Bolivia in the third group match (kick-off: 02.30 CET).
After yesterday's FFT session in Leverkusen, the Bayer 04 head coach Peter Bosz talked about the different approaches to the game of the last opponents SC Paderborn and the coming opposition Fortuna Düsseldorf (Sunday, 26 January, 18.00 CET). "It was an open game against Paderborn. In contrast, we’re expecting a team on Sunday that sits back and waits to play on the break," said the Dutchman. "But the challenge will be the same: We definitely want to win!"
Referee Daniel Schlager will be in charge of a Bundesliga match involving Bayer 04 for the first time on Sunday. The 30-year-old banker has Dominik Schaal and Arno Blos as his assistants and the fourth official is Michael Bacher.
"This podcast has just one subject: Simply football." That was the trailer from WDR for their "Simply football" podcast. And who could be better as an interviewee than Stefan Kießling? The long-standing Werkself player and now consultant to the Bayer 04 board was the guest for moderator Sven Pistor. The 47-year-old is the voice of the WDR 2 Bundesliga show "Liga Live" and he invited Kies along in conjunction with his ARD colleague Jürgen Bergener. The podcast will be available soon on the WDR website.
The former Werkself player Thomas Brdaric today celebrates his 45th birthday. The former Germany international played under the Bayer Cross from 1999 to 2003 and he was with Bayer 04 for the finals in the Champions League and the DFB Cup. The central striker scored 20 goals the Werkself in 126 games and provided 12 assists. After hanging up his boots, Brdaric moved into coaching and he was the manager of the North-east Regional League side Rot-Weiß Erfurt up until November last year. Bayer 04 wish him a very happy birthday!
Hansjörg Schneider (54) was a year older yesterday. The former second division player at Fortuna Köln (285 games, 15 goals) has been a physio at Bayer 04 since 2009. On the same day, albeit a couple of years later, former Bayer 04 players Jens Hegeler (32), Vladlen Yurchenko (26) and Joel Abu Hanna (22) were born. So a belated happy birthday to one and all!
Newcastle United have amassed nine points after five matchdays, one more in the UEFA Champions League than the Werkself. The Magpies are also steadily improving in the Premier League, where they're currently unbeaten in four games. On Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Eddie Howe's side will be the visitors at the BayArena. He's also likely to field two Germany internationals in the game. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
Show more
The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
Show more
