
In contrast to Alario, the Bayer 04 players in Leverkusen trained in the rain this morning in view of the BayArena. The Werkself stadium was lit up in purple last night – for an important reason: Bayer 04 were showing their solidarity with the doctors, nurses and parents of premature children at the Leverkusen Clinic, which the club has had a partnership with for many years. The BayArena was lit up from 17.00 to 22.00 marking yesterday's World Prematurity Day and was in good company with the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls.
Thanks to the 4-0 victory over Belarus, Germany are through to next years European Championship finals – now they are looking to win the group. Three points against Northern Ireland on Tuesday night (kick-off at 20.45 CET in Frankfurt, live on RTL) would see Germany reach their targets with the Werkself duo Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri on board. The other Bayer 04 pros in the Euro 2020 finals, Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria) and Lucas Hradecky (Finland), can be relaxed going into the final matchday of the qualifiers: Both Finland, who play Greece tonight (kick-off: 20.45 CET, live on DAZN), and Austria (Tuesday at 20.45 CET in Latvia, live on DAZN) are both set to finish second in their groups..
After coming on as a substitute for Germany in the game against Belarus, Luca Waldschmidt had to go off again just seven minutes later. The 23-year-old collided with the visitors’ keeper Alexander Gutor and today had to undergo an operation on a facial fracture. During the week, further investigations are to be made on an injured right knee and ankle. That means the second highest scorer for Freiburg, with four goals to date, will almost certainly be unavailable for the game against Bayer 04 on Saturday (23 November, kick-off: 15.30 CET) as will the suspended Vincenzo Grifo.
After a successful start to the season, the Werkself eSports player Kai 'Deto' Wollin announced the play-offs as the target for the season in his recent interview. The 31-year-old and his partner Fabian 'B04_DUBZJE' de Cae could pick up important points tonight: The duo, representing Bayer 04 in the Virtual Bundesliga (the VBL), play third from bottom FC St Pauli at 18.00 CET and league leaders VfB Stuttgart at 20.45 CET. Bayer 04 are currently seventh in the table.

Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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