Not normally a start full of fun but essential for a professional training programme. The Werkself are looking to lay the foundations for the most successful possible season over the coming weeks.
In addition to internal, orthopaedic and neurological tests, the players will go through an exhausting programme on Thursday and Friday with a series of jumping ability, stamina, vision and balance tests. In spite of that, the group were in high spirits. "Of course, after six weeks on holiday you look forward to coming back here. You somehow miss the team after such a long time," said a cheerful Kevin Volland. „"You know beforehand it will be two physically demanding days but that's all part of it."
The Bender twins and Kevin Volland were followed by the goalkeepers. Rambo Özcan was joined by the two new signings Lukas Hradecky and Thorsten Kirschbaum. Shortly after that came the next newcomer to Bayer 04 in the shape of Mitchell Weiser who completed the tests along with Panos Retsos and Dominik Kohr.
The Brazilian Paulinho will join up with the squad in the middle of July after celebrating his eighteenth birthday. The two players at the World Cup, Tin Jedvaj and Julian Brandt, are expected to return at the end of the month for the training camp in Zell am See-Kaprun. Jedvaj and Croatia face Russia in the quarter-finals on Saturday while Brandt is enjoying a well-deserved break after Germany's exit from the World Cup. The same applies to Jonathan Tah, who was in the initial Germany squad for Russia, and Julian Baumgartlinger plus Aleksandar Dragovic, who were on international duty with Austria after the end of the season.
The fans will have their first chance to see their team on the training ground on Saturday. Head coach Heiko Herrlich will lead the first session of the pre-season at 11.00 CET on training pitches 1 and 2. It will be broadcast in part live on Facebook and at bayer04.de.
Then it's time to get back on the bikes on Sunday. The Werkself are going to complete a three-day ride from Bad Bertrich via Koblenz and Bonn back to Leverkusen. "I can hardly wait," said Lars Bender with a smile, "we've all been measured up so we can have as comfortable a ride as possible with the right frame and, above all, the right saddle."
Bayer 04 are riding a wave of success on the European stage: After three wins from their first three games and as the only team yet to concede a goal, the Werkself sit second in the table in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. With another three points in their first-ever competitive match against Olympique Marseille on Thursday night, 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Bayer 04 could leap to the top of the table. Meanwhile, the French side are riding the wave of a winning streak in Ligue 1, but are yet to pick up any points in the Europa League. For one Werkself player, Thursday night will mark a reunion with his former team-mates. Today’s matchday news.
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The Europa League campaign continues: Bayer 04 host Olympique Marseille at the BayArena on matchday four of the group stage on Thursday 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Ahead of the clash against the club from the French Mediterranean coast, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about the visitors’ form and had some good news regarding the squad. Former OM player Facundo Medina spoke, amongst other things, about the factors that will be crucial against his old club.
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The Bayer 04 Round of 16 tie in the 2026/27 DFB Pokal has been scheduled. The Werkself will host Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig on Wednesday, 2 December, at 18:00 CET. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB).
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Video game developer Electronic Arts (EA), in collaboration with the Bundesliga, has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for October 2026 – and Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among them. Fans of the Black and Reds can vote from now until Sunday 8 November (23:59 CET).
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