In a relaxed session, the players competed on rebound nets or in one-on-ones with mini goals – Peter Bosz walked round the pitch with a board noting the scores. The warm-up routine saw Joel Pohjanpalo return to training. The Finn, who had been in rehab following an injury to his right ankle, completed parts of the full training session for the first time since the end of July..
"I’m taking it slowly as last time it was probably all too quick. I feel good but it's always a question of how the foot reacts. But we carry on, putting more and more stress on the foot and it's getting better and better. That's the way forward," said the 24-year-old after the session. "Of course, setbacks are painful but I feel the confidence of the coach and the players. Being negative in the dressing room doesn't help anybody. So everybody's happy when I make progress." In spite of not being able to work with the ball, Pohjanpalo has worked extremely hard on his fitness over the past few weeks: "I've achieved values like never before. But I've still got a lot to make up in practice."
There is huge anticipation ahead of the Champions League. Equally so for the first home game. Especially as Bayer 04 fans will then have to be patient before the next home appearance in Europe's premier club competition. After the game against Lokomotiv Moscow on 18 September (kick-off: 21.00 CET), the Peter Bosz team have two away fixtures in Group D. The Champions League anthem will only ring out at the BayArena again at the beginning of November on matchday four. Reason enough to secure tickets for the first group match for the Werkself at home to Lokomotiv Moscow. Individual tickets for the Werkself home game against Lokomotiv Moscow went on sale to Club members on Tuesday 3 September. Open sale starts on Thursday 5 September at 10.00 CET.
686 apprentices have started their working life at Bayer AG this year. In yesterday's traditional welcome event at the Leverkusen casino, Rudi Völler welcomed the new trainees to the Bayer family. As in recent years, the sporting managing director also invited this year’s new trainees, working in the Bayer facilities on the Lower Rhine, to watch a Werkself match in the Bundesliga. This season it is the match against Werder Bremen (25-27 October). The trainees in Berlin received an invitation to the Werkself away game in May of next year against Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium in the capital.
Once again golf was played for a good cause on Monday 2 September. Bayer 04 staged the 11th charity golf tournament in support of the Sportförderung gGmbH at the Leverkusen Golf Course. In addition to partners, sponsors and friends of Bayer 04, Werkself players also showed their skills with the golf club at this annual event – Lars Bender and Niklas Lomb had an impressive round. Also on the course were Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro and the former Bayer 04 players Stefan Kießling, Ulf Kirsten and Manuel Friedrich. Food and music for the guests was provided by the SalzburgerLand tourism organisation throughout the day. At the end of the day, the tournament raised €13,500 for good causes.
The organic sandwich box campaign has for many years promoted healthy children's food in numerous cities and regions in Germany. Bayer 04 have consistently supported the initiative of Leverkusen City Council – once again this year as well. Werkself pro Sven Bender helped with packing the reusable breakfast boxes with healthy snacks for breakfast break-time at the 'Nature estate Ophoven'. The organic sandwich boxes will be handed out to first years in the region over the next few days.
The former Bundesliga pro Patrick Owomoyela met up with Kevin Volland at the BayArena for the DFL Interview of the Month. As usual with Owo, Volland and the former pro competed in little games and spoke about life on and off the pitch. A small taster: In the episode to be shown on bundesliga.com next month, the pair can be seen in full ice hockey kit.
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
Show more
Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
Show more
A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
Show more
