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.
At the end of the winter training camp in Portugal, the Bayer 04 Women convincingly mastered their friendly ahead of the start of the second half of the season. In the match against Swiss league leaders Servette FCCF, coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 3-0 at the Monte Gordo Sports Complex. Carlotta Wamser (4’), Vanessa Fudalla (18’) and Loreen Bender (53’) scored for Bayer 04, who have been preparing for the Rückrunde in the Algarve since last Saturday.
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In the first episode of the new interview series "A New Chapter", Werkself defender Jarell Quansah reflects on his first few months under the Cross and speaks about his journey from England to Leverkusen. Having come through the ranks at Liverpool, a new chapter began for Quansah in the summer at Bayer 04 — with new objectives, fresh challenges and much ambition. In the video, the centre-back speaks about his development as a player and person, about the courage to leave your own comfort zone, and about what it means for him to be part of an international team in a different country. Honest, reflective and full of motivation — just like the start of his Werkself career.
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Full focus on Hoffenheim: after the late postponement of the away match at Hamburger SV, the Werkself are looking forward. To get themselves in top shape for the key clash at top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 17 January (kick-off 15:30 CET), a number of players showed full commitment even on a day off - including two AFCON returnees...
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After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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