Back
24.08.2021Bayer 04

Quartet sidelined – duo set for comeback

A difficult away game at Augsburg follows the outstanding performance against Gladbach. Head coach Gerardo Seoane talks about the personnel situation after the first full training session of the week, Jens Spahn spreads hope and Bayer 04 TV bring highlights from the weekend – Tuesday's news in brief.
20210824_JS_Training_0901.jpg

Beaming faces everywhere: That sums up the atmosphere under the Bayer Cross after the 4-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. No surprise for Gerardo Seoane as "results always influence the mood although the atmosphere in training was always good last week." The Swiss boss is now hoping the taste of success will contribute to his team coming together even more. "We want to continue growing together."

Alario and Bellarabi set to return

Two players who currently are only able to help with this process in the dressing room are Karim Bellarabi and Lucas Alario. Following their muscle injuries, they completed individual sessions on the training ground on Tuesday but both are close to making a return to full training according to Seoane. "Lucas will probably join full training this week," said the head coach. But he is not an option for the game on Saturday, 28 August (kick-off: 15.30 CET). Seoane added: "It will probably take a week longer with Karim. Both should be available again after the international break."

Tah and Co. sidelined

Four players were missing from training on Tuesday. Jonathan Tah and Joel Pohjanpalo complained of slight cold symptoms and were absent from the training ground as were Julian Baumgartlinger and Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman took a kick on the knee and is set to rejoin full training tomorrow; Julian Baumgartlinger has an inflamed knee. The next few days will show when the Austria captain will be able to train again.

20210821_NB_B04_MGB_17348.jpg

praise for Demirbay

After the impressive performances in Leipzig and at Union Berlin, Kerem Demirbay also shone in the first home game of the season against Borussia Mönchengladbach. "Of course, it's to our benefit that he is so full of running as our number 10," was the assessment of Gerardo Seoane who not only praises Demirbay for his attacking endeavour: "It's always good if you have a player who also works well in defence and thereby provides additional support to the team." Our number 10 impressed in his game going forward above all with the enormous quality of his passes and a special awareness of space. The whole package is also due to Demirbay's good pre-season. "He has invested a lot and is therefore in very good condition," said Seoane.

Wirtz: not ready for 90 minutes

In that respect, Florian Wirtz is not yet as well advanced after playing in the U21 European Championships in the summer and then only able to do reduced training due to problems with his lower back. "We'll have to see how he deals with the increased workload. The most important thing is he doesn't have any other problems," stressed the Werkself head coach. "I prefer it if a player makes a short appearance but can play with high intensity in his minutes on the pitch and show commitment. He is currently not yet ready for 90 minutes."

Pandemic: losses of two billion euros

Empty stands due to the coronavirus pandemic have a lead to total losses of two billion euros for clubs in the top five leagues in Europe. Those findings come from a report from the accountants KPMG. In addition to the Bundesliga, the analysis also considered the Premier League (England), Serie A (Italy), Ligue 1 (France) and La Liga (Spain). In the 2019/20 season, with crowds at games up to March, the losses were 500 million euros. The losses in the Bundesliga at that time were estimated at 157 million euros more than the other four leagues.

Spahn: treat vaccinated differently from tested

So far this season, only the Premier League and Ligue 1 games are being played in front of full stands. The crowd limit in Spain is currently 40 percent and in Italy it is 50 percent. In Germany there is a maximum limit of 25,000 fans. But that could soon change. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn has given Bundesliga clubs hope for fuller stadiums in relation to the attendance question. "I think you can do one thing: With the number of spectators, you can treat the vaccinated and recovered differently from the tested. Without doubt, significantly more vaccinated and recovered people can be in a stadium – albeit in the open air – as spectators than is currently possible," said Spahn to the Bild Zeitung.

crop_20210821_JS_B04_BMG_2304.jpg

Highlights on Bayer 04 TV

Pure emotion at the first home game of the season with over 15,000 spectators. Bayer 04 TV brings highlights of the action-packed Bundesliga match between the Werkself and Borussia Mönchengladbach. From this season, highlights of games will be available on bayer04.de from the Tuesday after the fixture and all match reports from this season are available in the archive.

Related News

Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg | 8th matchday
Werkself-TV - 25.10.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.

Show more
Loreen Bender am Boden
Women - 25.10.2026

Setback in Nuremberg: Bayer 04 women suffer first away defeat

After nine points from their first three away matches of the 2026/27 season, the Bayer 04 Women suffered their first away defeat on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 defeat away to FC Nürnberg, who were winless before today, represented a setback for coach Roberto Pätzold’s team in the race for the top spots in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Fany Pronietz scored both goals (62’, 85’) for the home side.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #TSGB04
Bundesliga - 25.10.2026

Matchday news: Strong form and on a roll

The Werkself still have a score to settle with TSG Hoffenheim: Bayer 04 lost both matches against the Kraichgau side last term – after the Black and Reds had won all the previous five encounters. Leverkusen are currently on a roll and looking to kick off a new winning streak against TSG in Sinsheim on Sunday 25 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET), and Patrik Schick is keen to continue his current run of form. However, it will not be easy, as coach Christian Ilzer’s team have also gained confidence recently. Today’s matchday news.

Show more
Training vor dem Spiel in Nürnberg
Women - 24.10.2026

'Exert pressure as a chasing team': Women in action at Nürnberg

A look at the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga table ahead of the Werkself's clash at 1. FC Nürnberg leaves little discussion: Bayer 04 Women go into Sunday's meeting at the Max-Morlock-Stadion (16:00 CEST) as clear favourites. Coach Roberto Pätzold explains what's needed for the fourth-placed team against the second-from-bottom in order to make it four wins from four away matches this season.

Show more
Jonas Hofmann und Co. nach Abpfiff
Europa League - 23.10.2026

Werkself Review: Next clean sheet and hunger for goals

Bayer 04 march on! On the Greek holiday island of Crete, the Werkself made it three wins from three games in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase against Greek Cup winners OFI Crete. Carles Martínez's side put on an attacking display with a total of 33 attempts, while one player in particular stood out with a brace. At the same time, they kept another clean sheet in Europe. All the reaction and analysis of the 2-0 victory in the Werkself Review.

Show more