At the pre-match press conference, the Covid-19 infection of Edmond Tapsoba was also under discussion. “It’s hit us now...,” said a somewhat deflated Bosz. “The doc called me last night. Edmond was surprised by the result of the test. But he feels alright so far.” The relevant local health authority will determine how long the 21-year-old will have to spend in self-isolation. “If he remains free of symptoms then he might be able to keep fit at home. Our fitness coaches are discussing it with him,” Bosz added.
In addition to Tapsoba, the Werkself will again have to manage without long-term absentees Paulinho, Santiago Arias and Exequiel Palacios, who suffered a serious back injury playing for Argentina, for the game against Bielefeld. And the skipper Charles Aránguiz is also unavailable due to an Achilles problem and the Chilean is still currently training on his own. There is good news about Patrik Schick. The 24-year-old has been in full training all week. Subject to the final pre-match training session, Bosz is hoping Schick can return to the squad.
In spite of the coronavirus case and the long injury list: “We have to accept the situation as it is. Now we have to focus on Bielefeld and get a good result. Bielefeld are a good team. They started well in the league but then had problems. We’re obviously going there to win the game.” The coach would like to see his team play with same energy against Arminia as they did against Gladbach. “It won’t be easy against a more defensive team but we’ll have to find the right answers. How the game develops will mainly depend on us.”
It has been a few years since the last Bundesliga fixture between the Werkself and Arminia: That match in May 2009 in Leverkusen ended in a 2-2 draw. And a look at the stats reveals the newcomers have been tough opponents for the Werkself in the past. In the previous 28 Bundesliga meetings, Bayer 04 have won ten, drawn ten and lost eight times. The most recent results clearly favour the Werkself. While the Peter Bosz team (four wins, three draws) and VfL Wolfsburg are the only unbeaten sides in the current Bundesliga campaign , Bielefeld have lost all of their last five games. But Bosz believes: “They will have used the international break well. They will try to make life difficult for us.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky, Werks11 Radio
Referee: Will be announced on the day of the game
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
Show more
Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
Show more
Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
Show more
