Ecuador have been incredibly consistent in the current World Cup qualifiers: The team has now been unbeaten in the last four World Cup qualifying matches. In the early stages of the game against Brazil it looked unlikely that Piero Hincapie and Co. would earn a point. Ecuador first went a goal down after six minutes and one of the Leverkusen player’s teammates was shown a red card on the quarter-hour mark.
Brazil then had a player sent off for two yellow card offences a few minutes later to equal out the numbers. The hosts refused to give up – and they hit back. Felix Torres, who plays for Santos Laguna in Mexico, levelled the scores at 1-1 on 75 minutes. Hincapie played the full game.
That means Ecuador remain in third place after 15 of 18 games. With nine points to play for and a lead of seven points to the play-off spot, it appears the fourth qualification for the World Cup finals is on the cards. That could be sealed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday with a win against Peru.
Charles Aránguiz was also involved in a World Cup qualifier. Chile, with the Werkself midfielder playing the full 90 minutes like Hincapie, entertained second-placed Argentina overnight. Aránguiz and Co. also went behind early on. They levelled in the middle of the first half but the Albiceleste took the lead again at 2-1 before half-time and that scoreline remained to the end.
As the seventh-placed team in the South American qualifying group, Chile are not certain of qualifying. The gap to the play-off position of fifth is one point with them having played a game more. The second and final match of the current international break for Aránguiz and Co. is on Tuesday 1 February. In the game against closest rivals Bolivia – one point behind Chile having played a game less – a victory is a must.
Bayer 04 and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer have shown great commitment to the community as the sale of custom-designed T-shirts for charity in the Fanwelt as part of the “BarmeniaGothaer Brings Joy campaign raised a good €5,000. Bayer 04 matched this sum with an equal contribution. As a result, a total of €10,000 was presented to Edmond Tapsoba for his foundation ahead of the home match against Hamburg. The foundation supports people facing challenging daily circumstances in his home country of Burkina Faso.
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Bayer 04 host Hamburg at the BayArena for the first time since September 2017 on the final day of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season on Saturday (15:30 CEST). HSV are safe in their first campaign back in the top flight after back-to-back wins, but Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 19 games against promoted teams as they go for the victory they need to have a chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. There’s also heavy discounts on food and drinks at the BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 fixture in our matchday news.
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As well as previously confirmed departures, Bayer 04 Women will also say goodbye to Vanessa Haim and Shen Menglu before Sunday’s final game of the season at home to Werder Bremen as the pair leave Leverkusen upon the expiration of their contracts.
Show moreThe last competitive match of the 2025/26 season takes place at the BayArena on Saturday 16 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), where Hamburger SV are the visitors. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand discussed the mindset and the approach for the crucial final game against HSV, among other topics.
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