Werkself trio sidelined
Head coach Peter Bosz will have to manage without three players in the final phase of the pre-season. Joel Pohjanpalo, Mitchell Weiser and Lars Bender will be unavailable for different lengths of time.
A minor setback for Joel Pohjanpalo: The Finnish striker is sidelined for a couple of weeks due to a reaction in his right ankle. In the friendly against SD Eibar at the training camp in Zell am See, Pohjanpalo went off injured after a challenge and he was unable to take part in full training. As the situation has not improved in recent days, in spite of a break, the medical department at Bayer 04 have agreed in discussion with the player and the club to take him out of training the moment.
Mitchell Weiser also faces complete rest. The right back was kicked in the friendly against Heracles Almelo last Sunday and he was substituted on 24 minutes. A check-up revealed painful bruising on the sole of his foot and his metatarsal. The 25-year-old has to wear a special boot for a couple of days and will then take up a one-to-one training programme.
Lars Bender faces a shorter time on the sidelines. The Werkself captain suffered a slight strain in his right thigh in last Sunday's friendly against Vitesse Arnhem (28 July). He played to the end of the half but was replaced at the break by Cem Türkmen. The 30-year-old will be training on his own for a week or so.
Related News
Women - 11.12.2025
Women in final Hinrunde game at Werder Bremen
The penultimate Bundesliga matchday of the calendar year marks the end of an eventful first half of the season for the Bayer 04 Women. After seven wins, one draw and four defeats from the first twelve games of the season, coach Roberto Pätzold's team can go above Werder Bremen in the table with a win on Friday, 12 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET).
Show more
eSports - 11.12.2025
#B04eSports: Match between the two Showdown winners opens the third event
The third showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 kicks off for the Leverkusen eSports team this Thursday, 11 December (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Red will once again take on six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round, which will take place at this third showdown on 19 December in Cologne. Showdown One winners Bayer 04 will face FC St. Pauli, who won the second showdown last month, among others. The lowdown on first three opponents in this online preliminary round.
Show more
Champions League - 10.12.2025
Werkself level late in 2-2 draw with Newcastle United
Alejandro Grimaldo, of course! With his late equaliser (88') in the Champions League clash against Newcastle United, the Spaniard rescued a point for the Werkself, who took the lead through an own goal by Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes (13') but went with two goals for the visitors scored by Anthony Gordon (51') and Lewis Miley (74'). It was the third draw for Bayer 04 in the current 2025/26 campaign on matchday 6 in the UCL league phase.
Show more
Champions League - 10.12.2025
Matchday news #B04NEW: Take on Newcastle with efficiency and quick transitions
The Werkself will be looking to continue their run in the Champions League against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The two victories without conceding a goal at Benfica (1:0) and Manchester City (2-0) will hopefully be followed by a win at home at the BayArena. Against the English side, who have a player with a Black and Red past in their ranks, the way to victory could be through efficiency in attack and quick transitional play. The latter in particular has recently caused the Magpies problems away from home on the European stage. Fans can also get the stylish matchday sticker for their Sound of Dreams tour pass at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt. The matchday news.
Show more
U19 - 10.12.2025
2-1 against Newcastle United- U19s though to Youth League knockout phase for the first time
For the first time ever, Bayer 04 have reached the knockout phase of the UEFA Youth League. At the end of the league phase, the Leverkusen U19s secured a 2-1 home win against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December. Montrell Culbreath scored before half-time and Ferdinand Pohl doubled the lead after the restart in the clash with the English side. The UCL youth competition continues at the beginning of February with the Round of 32, which will be played away from home without a second leg.
Show more
