Simon Rolfes, the sporting managing director at Bayer 04, assesses Tapsoba's contract extension as "absolutely showing the way forward for our team and our club. Edmond is one of the best central defenders in the Bundesliga, he definitely has the potential to make it to the top on the international stage," declared Rolfes. "This contract extension sends out a signal for us. We have ambitious targets at Leverkusen that we want to achieve with great players like Edmond Tapsoba. His quality on the pitch combined with his enormous ease and calm make Edmond a top player and a key member of our squad."
Tapsoba sees the contract extension as "a commitment to a club I have built up a very emotional connection to since my arrival in January 2020. The environment at Leverkusen is special for me," emphasised the 1.94 metre tall right-footer. "The support from the fans for the team is fantastic, our squad gets better year by year and I'm absolutely convinced I have the best conditions at Bayer 04 for a successful future."
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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