The starting eleven fielded by Herrlich demonstrated his serious approach to the friendly against Fortuna. Nine international players and the injured Tin Jedvaj and Charles Aránguiz were missing but the Bayer 04 team was up to Bundesliga strength. Playing in swirling winds, the Werkself immediately moved the ball forward in a flowing move down the left flank and the unmarked Karim Bellarabi unleashed a shot from close range but the Fortuna keeper Tim Boss was able to turn his effort away for a corner on two minutes.
It wasn't long before the ball was in the back of the Köln net: Marlon Frey, playing at right back, hit the ball with the outside of his right foot from a diagonal position high into the far corner on nine minutes. Excellent technique and great to watch – just like the goal scored by Frey in the friendly against Bochum at the end of August. Shortly after that, the captain kept his cool in front of goal: Lars Bender doubled the lead on 15 minutes with a low shot into the net after the ball was won in a high press.
The team from Cologne looked overawed and overextended by the tough approach and fast tempo of the hosts. The 450 fans at the Haberland Stadium enjoyed a flowing performance from Bayer 04 – including a back-heel by Lucas Alario from a Leon Bailey corner. The Argentinian, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Sunday, put the ball just wide of the target on 20 minutes. The third goal came from Fortuna: Mimbala was only able to turn a whipped-in cross from Bellarabi into his own net just before the half-hour mark. André Ramalho headed the ball off the line three minutes before the break.
The hosts continued to dominate after the restart, now with Niklas Lomb in nets, and remained sharp in front of goal: Kevin Volland turned in a Wendell cross to make it 4-0 on 52 minutes. A deflected shot from Bellarabi touched the bar on 68 minutes and the Fortuna keeper kept out Bailey two minutes later. Lomb then made a great save to prevent Köln pulling a goal back on 74 minutes. Alario (81') and Vladlen Yurchenko (83') both went close to making it five following passes from substitute Stefan Kießling.
After the international break, the Werkself are back in action in the Bundesliga on Sunday 15 October at home to VfL Wolfsburg. The match at the BayArena kicks off at 15.30 CET.
Bayer 04 line-up:
Bayer 04: Özcan (Lomb 46') – Frey, S. Bender, Ramalho, Wendell – L. Bender (Yurchenko 72'), Kohr – Bellarabi, Volland (Kießling 72'), Bailey – Alario
Goals:
1-0 Frey (9'), 2-0 L. Bender (15'), 3-0 Mimbala o.g. (28'), 4-0 Volland (52')
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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