One player is missing for tomorrow’s trip to Bremen: Lars Bender. The team captain suffered an injury to his foot and is sidelined for the Werder game. Kevin Volland is also unavailable as he continues his recovery in rehab from an ankle ligament injury. “Otherwise, we’ll have all the lads with us who are normally in the squad. We’ll also have some youth players with us, including Florian Wirtz,” said Bosz, who expressed his satisfaction with the youth player: “He has to be a good player – otherwise he wouldn’t train with us regularly as a 17-year-old.”
A day before the restart in Bremen, the Dutchman highlighted the “very good” discipline of his team. “I’ve been working with them for three months during the coronavirus pandemic and I have to say they know what’s expected of them. In addition, our team doctor Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar was very good in explaining to them what they can and cannot do,” said Bosz, who has logically dedicated attention this week to the thought of “how we can win the game against Werder.”
In preparation for the game, the Werkself played a practice match at the BayArena simulating the new coronavirus conditions. “We have to be able to handle it. The emotions will be different and also the situation of being able to hear more. We’ve tried to reproduce that at our own ground with eleven-a-side training,” said Bosz.
The circumstances around the hygiene regulations applicable before and after matchdays plus the absence of fans are both new experiences for the Dutch coach. The 56-year-old paid close attention to yesterday’s first Bundesliga fixtures in 66 days – above all, on the rivals in the race for a Champions League slot. “Of course, we’re looking at our direct rivals. But I don’t think we’re under more pressure because of that. We have to mind our own business and win our games,” said Bosz. After the two-month break, the desire is still there for the “attractive and dominant” Bayer 04 style of play.
For the first time, matchday 26 also brings the rule change of five substitutions instead of three per team per match that applies to the end of the season. Bosz: “That gives us coaches extra chances of having more influence on the game.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: DAZN and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 4-0 win at Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal 2026/27...
Show more
Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
Show more
Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
Show more
