Everything is going like clockwork for Hakan Calhanoglu when he puts on a Turkey shirt. Four weeks ago the Werkself midfielder scored the goal for Turkey in a 1-1 draw in the World Cup qualifier away to Croatia. And another Calhanoglu goal brought a point for Turkey on Thursday night in a 2-2 draw against Ukraine. With his team 2-0 down Hakan held his nerve when he converted a penalty with eight minutes to play to level at 2-2 to secure an important point in the race for a European qualifying slot for the 2018 World Cup. Calhanoglu also provided the assist for the first goal from Ozan Tufan with an accurate corner. Ömer Toprak returned to the starting line-up for his national side for the first time in two years.
Fortunately and Charles Aránguiz, who played the full 90 minutes, the World Cup qualifier in Ecuador ended with a bitter disappointment. The Copa America winner's lost 3-0. The hosts were 2-0 up at half-time and the third came just after the restart. Brazil coasted to a 5-0 win against Bolivia. Wendell, who was in the Seleção squad for the first time, did not make his debut for the record World Cup winners. The South American World Cup qualifying group sees Brazil in second place with 18 points from nine games, one point behind leaders Uruguay, and Chile are seventh with just 11 points.
Austria had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the home game against Wales but they twice came back from behind with Marco Arnautovic scoring both goals. Julian Baumgartlinger was the Austria captain in his 50th international. Aleksandar Dragovic was also in the starting eleven. And the Werkself trio for Austria was complete after 15 minutes when goalkeeper Ramazan Özcan replace the injured keeper Robert Almer.
Ran out easy winners with a 6-0 victory in Kosovo. Tin Jedvaj did not play. Australia also drew 2-2 in Saudi Arabia with Robbie Kruse playing the full 90 minutes.
Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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Bayer 04 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. The design, developed by kit supplier New Balance, combines the city’s colours with symbols that have defined Leverkusen and Bayer 04 for generations.
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Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Montrell Culbreath for the start of the 2026/27 season. The forward injured his foot injury in yesterday’s preseason friendly against Spanish top-flight side Sevilla (2–1), which rules him out of action for the time being. Culbreath’s diagnosis is not yet complete; further examinations are to follow in the coming days.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
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