
Peter Bosz and his fellow coaches certainly put the players through their paces – four days before the home game against the relegation – threatened Franconians there was a highly intensive session on the agenda. Split into teams of three, there were plenty of high tempo encounters with lots of shots on goal on small sized pitches. The Werkself were certainly warmed up with outdoor temperatures of 15 degrees.
On Tuesday, Kevin Volland and Lars Bender joined the training group later that also included three U19 players Adrian Stanilewicz, Herdi Bukusu and Marc Lamti. The duo started with an individual session on the ball on the neighbouring pitch before they rejoined their teammates for the last part of the session. Leon Bailey worked in the gym at the BayArena to lighten his workload. Isaac Kiese Thelin did not make the session. The Sweden striker complained of muscle problems in his calf and therefore missed out on the morning workout.
While the action was on the training ground in the morning, it moved inside in the early afternoon. As part of the Bayer 04 Soccer School Easter camp there was a player visit and a tour of the stadium. After lunch, Panos Retsos was in the media centre at the BayArena where he completed a Q & A session with the kids. In a somewhat unorthodox interview, the 20-year-old revealed his favourite club, spoke about his favourite book and with which players in the squad he spends most of his free time with. At the end, the Werkself number three signed autographs and had selfies taken with the camp participants. To the great surprise for a section of the kids on the stadium tour, they bumped into Wendell, Karim Bellarabi and head coach Peter Bosz in the Mixed Zone. All three were happy to mix with the fans and meet their desire for selfies. Up to Thursday, over 100 young female and male players will complete different technical and tactical training sessions at the Soccer Centor Leverkusen (for those born from 2010 to 2012) and at Kurtekotten (2005 to 2009). The club has also organised a four-day camp for the second week of the holidays.








The Bayer 04 U19s have a competitive match tonight. At 19.00 CET the team coached by Markus von Ahlen face Bonner SC in Bonn (Sportpark Nord, artificial pitch on Josefshöhe) in the quarter-finals of the Association Cup against the team from a tier below, currently lying seventh in the Middle Rhine League. After a disappointing 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened SC Paderborn in the U19 Bundesliga on Saturday, the Bayer 04 Youth team are now determined to do all they can to reach the semi-finals. Markus von Ahlen is unable to call on the young pro Jan Boller as he has been away in Lower Saxony since Sunday for a session with the Germany U19s in Barsinghausen.


Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
Show more
Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
Show more
Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
Show more
The next footballing highlight is just around the corner: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico and feature 48 teams for the first time. Bayer04.de has all the latest on the Werkself players called up to represent their countries.
Show more
While the majority of the Bayer 04 Women are enjoying their summer break, nine Werkself players will be on duty for their national teams in the coming days. Three of them are competing for a place at the World Cup, while six are involved in two friendlies with the Germany U23 team.
Show more