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.
The Werkself visit Borussia Dortmund for Matchday 30 of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season on Sunday 21 April (kick-off 5.30pm CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team has all the info you need for the match at the Signal Iduna Park...
Show moreThe Werkself are through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League thanks to a second-half comeback. Michael Antonio put West Ham United in front early on the night in the quarter-final second leg but Jeremie Frimpong levelled in the 89th minute at the London Stadium. After the 2-0 win in the first leg, the draw was enough for Bayer 04 to progress.
Show moreReturn leg in London: tonight, Thursday 18 April (kick-off 21:00 CEST), the Werkself visit West Ham United. All the information you need on the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg at the London Stadium is in the Matchday News.
Show moreAfter the week’s celebrations of the club’s first ever league title, Bayer 04 are now focused once again on their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg away at West Ham United on Thursday (kick-off: 9pm CEST). The Werkself are in a good position with a 2-0 lead from the first game, but it’s not over yet, as head coach Xabi Alonso and midfielder Granit Xhaka stressed at their pre-match press conference in London on Wednesday evening.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has launched the vote for the Bundesliga Team of the Season. As of now, fans of the Werkself can select no fewer than eight Bayer 04 players in the top XI of the 2023/24 campaign: on the shortlist are Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, Exequiel Palacios, Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface. Voting closes on Monday 22 April at 9:00 CEST.
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