Julian Brandt, Kai Havertz, Jonathan Tah (all with Germany), Charles Aránguiz (Chile), Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria), Lukas Hradecky (Finland), Tin Jedvaj (Croatia), Isaac Kiese Thelin (Sweden), Paulinho (Brazil U20s) plus Jakub Bednarczyk (Poland U20s) are away with their national teams: The international fixtures will be played from Thursday to Sunday (6 to 11 September) and the majority of the Bayer 04 pros will return to Leverkusen at the start of next week; only Charles Aránguiz and Tin Jedvaj will head back on Wednesday.
Head coach Heiko Herrlich had eight outfield players available for the training session on Monday afternoon in the shape of Lucas Alario, Leon Bailey, Karim Bellarabi, Sven Bender, Dominik Kohr, Sam Schreck, Kevin Volland and Mitchell Weiser – Rambo Özcan and Tomasz Kucz worked with goalkeeping coach Daniel Thiel on the training ground. Julian Baumgartlinger (knee), Panos Retsos (thigh), Joel Pohjanpalo (ankle),Wendell (knee) and Lars Bender were absent for the first session of the week; the captain did complete an individual session in the gym at the BayArena.
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
Show more
The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
Show more
The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
Show more
