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.
This afternoon, Saturday 24 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET), Bayer 04 host SV Werder Bremen, who are winless in their last seven league games. Nevertheless, in their last outing, a 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, where they conceded a late equaliser, the Green and Whites did show their team spirit. The Werkself, led by birthday boy Patrik Schick, will be looking to counter this and secure their first three points of the new year on this ‘!Never Again’ remembrance matchday to commemorate the victims of National Socialism. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
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Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win at 1. FC Union Berlin on the 15th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Despite a severely depleted squad and being a player down, the Bayer 04 Women made a winning start to their 2026 campaign. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 2-1 at newly promoted FC Union Berlin on Friday night thanks to a last-minute goal. Vanessa Fudalla scored from a direct free-kick (78') and Kristin Kögel (90+2’) in stoppage time for the Werkself, who were reduced to ten players on 68 minutes, on an atmospheric stage at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. As a result, the Black and Reds are now fifth in the table for at least one night at the start of matchday 15.
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The Werkself are looking for the first win of the new calendar year: Ahead of the sold-out Bundesliga home match against SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about taking chances, possible winter transfers and a “Lion" returning to the Leverkusen matchday squad.
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