19 out of a possible 21 points in the Bundesliga, 14 of the last 16 games won: The Black and Reds have carried on where they left off at the beginning of March with two wins since the restart. "I was a little worried we'd lose our rhythm due to the coronavirus break," admitted head coach Peter Bosz at today's pre-match press conference but, at the same time, he said with relief: "To be honest, I have to say our players have recently been really good in putting our instructions into practice. Once again: Hats off to the lads."
It's one match after the next for the Werkself at the moment. Four games in 12 days are on the agenda. "The gap between matches is very short. With this run of games it's very important for us to control workloads so that all the players stay fit," explained Bosz who was today able to welcome Jonathan Tah (back problems) and Kevin Volland (ankle ligament) back to the training ground. "Afterwards we’ll see which players are available," added the 56-year-old.
One player, who in all probability will also face VfL, is Kerem Demirbay. The summer signing from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim produced impressive performances in the games against Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bosz: "It's taken a while with him. But that's normal when a player moves to a new club. Kerem has played very well in the second half of the season and he brings his quality to the pitch."
Bosz and Co. have only experienced games without fans away up till now. Tomorrow will be the first game for the Werkself behind closed doors at the BayArena. In the first two Bundesliga matchdays after the restart, the hosts have only won three matches. "I don't think that's a coincidence. It's easier for the away teams if there are no fans at the ground. Without fans, it's more down to the quality of the teams on the pitch," said Bosz who finished off with a comment on tomorrow's opponents: "It will be tough again against Wolfsburg – we'll have to give 100 per cent over 90 minutes and definitely set out to win the game in the end."
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the match.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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