"I was satisfied with our overall performance. We could definitely have scored one our two more goals but we didn't miss as many chances as we did in the other friendlies," said head coach Heiko Herrlich after the game that he sees as part of mid-season break. "And one or two players used the friendly well to show they want to get back in the team."
The boss gave the players involved in Saturday's 4-1 in the Bundesliga away to TSG Hoffenheim two days off. Today saw the start of the build-up to the next challenge for the Werkself in Sunday's home fixture against Mainz 05 (28 January 15.30 CET): While the coaching staff held a light training session for the starting eleven from the Hoffenheim game, the rest of the squad lined up against the Regional League outfit from Oberhausen at the neighbouring Ulrich Haberland Stadium. "Nothing in training has the same intensity as a match over 90 minutes. And playing against 'real' opponents is completely different from eleven a side in training or other drills," said Herrlich after the fourth friendly in January before adding: "All 20 outfield players have now had the chance to play three full games over the past three weeks. The running and workmate against Hoffenheim shows we've done the right thing."
MATCH PRACTICE FOR U19s
From the kick-off, the Herrlich team captained by Stefan Kießling looked like they were in a somewhat more intensive training session as they pressed Oberhausen. Dominik Kohr produced the reward for the attacking approach of the Black and Reds when he netted from close range on 11 minutes after Stefan Kießling headed on a cross from U19 player Jakub Bednarczyk. On the half-hour Mark, Karim Bellarabi rounded off a great solo run with a well-placed low drive into the back of the net to double the lead. There were no more goals before half-time.
The seventh-placed team from the Regional League West, who resume their league campaign in the middle of February, shuffled the pack at the break and they succeeded in creating a number of chances after the restart. Apart from the consolation strike from substitute Rafael Garcia making it 2-1 on 81 minutes, the visitors were unable to convert any other chances in front of 350 supporters. In the closing stages, the U19 player Güven Yalcin came off the bench to round off the scoring at 3-1 on 89 minutes. nn mit dem 3:1 für die Werkself letztlich den Deckel drauf (89.). "It's clear you can never reach the same intensity in a friendly as you can in the Bundesliga. But we see it as a step-up on training, said Herrlich.
In addition to goalscorer Yalcin, the head coach also gave Bayer 04 U19 players Sam Schreck, Marius Samoura und Atakan Akkaynak time on the pitch. He was unable to call on Vladen Yurchenko as he is still recovering from a foot injury. Marlon Frey was also sidelined due to a stomach problem.
Bayer 04: Özcan – Kuba, Jedvaj, Retsos, Henrichs – Bellarabi, Kohr (79. Samoura 79'), Havertz (Schreck 71'), Mehmedi (Akkaynak 84') – Kießling, Pohjanpalo (Yalcin 84')
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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