Today’s training session at the BayArena involved four goalkeepers plus all the players who did not start at Paderborn on Sunday. The players from the starting line-up – except for keeper Lukas Hradecky and Daley Sinkgraven – completed a separate session. The left-back picked up a knock at Paderborn and was therefore given a lighter workload today. In addition to the Dutchman, Charles Aránguiz remains sidelined due to a muscle injury.
The scorers in East Westphalia were Kevin Volland with a brace and Kai Havertz plus another Werkself player not usually associated with scoring goals: Julian Baumgartlinger. The Austrian enforcer has scored 04 goals in 203 Bundesliga games. “Over the course of my career, scoring goals has happened less and less with me playing in more defensive positions,” said the 32-year-old. “But I do get into the box from time to time for set-pieces.”
Perhaps Baumi will carry on where he left off at the Benteler Arena this Sunday night. Fortuna Düsseldorf visit the BayArena (kick-off: 18.00 CET). Leverkusen’s number 15: “The first home game after the winter break is very important to us! We’re expecting to face a very well-organised team. It’s important we continue to do the things we got right at Paderborn.”
Lothar Matthäus believes the second half of the season will see Bayern Munich win the league - and Bayer 04 will not lose a game! The 1990 World Cup winner has predicted the results of all the games in the second half of the season for the top six in the Bundesliga for the Bild Zeitung. The 58-year-old has predicted two draws for the Black and Reds against RB Leipzig and FC Bayern and a 4-2 win against Borussia Dortmund. However, according to the Matthäus rankings, the Werkself will ‘only’ finish fifth on 65 points – two points behind Borussia Mönchengladbach, the first professional club for Lothar Matthäus.
Moreover: An unbeaten run like that, which the TV pundit predicts for the Peter Bosz team, has only been achieved by four clubs in Germany’s top flight. Eintracht Frankfurt (1976/77), Hamburg SV (1982/83) and Borussia Dortmund (2011/12) have managed that feat once. FC Bayern have been unbeaten in three seasons: 1986/87, 2012/13 and 2013/14.
Do you want to support the Werkself in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32 tie in Porto? Then visit the ticket shop! The exclusive advance sale for Bayer 04 Club members started this morning. Bayer 04 fans who have previously bought tickets can buy tickets for this game from Thursday 23 February. The Werkself are away for the second leg in Portugal on Thursday 27 February (kick-off: 18.55 CET). The first leg at the BayArena is a week earlier on Thursday 20 February at 21.00 CET.
The Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta is set to join Hull City on permanent terms from 1 July. Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Championship club originally agreed a season-long loan in the summer with an option to buy included in the contract. A permanent move to Hull City has been triggered by the number of league appearances Puerta has made this term.
Show moreThe Easter holidays enticed a large number of Bayer 04 fans to come to the training ground at the BayArena, today Wednesday 16 April, to watch the Werkself at an open training session in the afternoon. Afterwards, the players and head coach Xabi Alonso took time out to sign autographs and pose for photographs. And there was a lot going on besides: While midfield maestro Granit Xhaka fielded questions at an entertaining children's press conference, including the story behind his squad number 34, Nathan Tella faced the media.
Show moreAway fans take note: Tickets for the forthcoming away game for the Werkself against FC St Pauli at the Millerntor Stadium on Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST) are exclusively available on the Bayer 04 app. The tickets are available at once and as usual under the 'Profil' tab by clicking on the 'Meine Tickets' button.
Show moreFlap up, screen on: With the help of the new Bayer 04 tactics truck, training content and match action for the Werkself as well as tactical graphics can now be shown and discussed on the training ground.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-1 draw against 1. FC Köln on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2024/25...
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