On Sunday 1 March (kick-off: 15.30 CET) the Werkself in fifth place play the team second in the table at the Red Bull Arena. "It will be a highly interesting top match with two teams in good shape and on a good run," said Bosz full of anticipation. The fact that Leipzig, unlike the Werkself, did not have a game during the week is not particularly significant. The Dutchman added: "Perhaps they will want to be very aggressive against us at the start. But we know Leipzig, have often played them and watched them a lot."
Following the return from Porto, the Werkself were soon back on the training ground at the BayArena. A recovery session plus a normal workout for players not in the starting eleven at Porto were on the agenda. Charles Aránguiz took part. The Chilean missed the trip to Portugal due to the after-effects of a cold. "We'll have to wait and see after tomorrow's training session," said Bosz in reference to a possible appearance for his holding midfielder against Leipzig. Lars Bender, who was substituted in the Porto game, is undergoing a medical today and more will be known about the captain tomorrow.
Immediately before flying out from Porto, winger Moussa Diaby found out his son Ismail had been born in Paris. His team mates congratulated the Frenchman on board the plane. After landing at Cologne/Bonn Airport, the new father drove straight off in the direction of Paris to see his newborn for the first time. "We're all really happy for him," declared Bosz. "We'll wait and see what happens with him. We don't know at the moment."
The day after qualifying for the Europa League Round of 16, the head coach briefly looked back at last night's game at the Estádio do Dragão. "The team did very well. It wasn't our best game but it was a convincing win against a good opponent. We controlled the game, dominated and deserved to win."
The targets after nine wins in ten games remain the same. Bosz: "Our aim is to carry on trying to win every game – and that's worked out really well recently. It's not worth looking too far ahead with two games a week. We only focus on the next opponent."
Shortly after landing in Germany, Bosz and Co. discovered their opponents in the Europa League Round of 16. The Werkself play Rangers on 12 and 19 March. The Dutchman is looking forward to the clashes with the top Scottish side: "They are a good opponent with a great history in football. And it will be the first game at Ibrox for me."
Match information:
Attendance: 1,000 Bayer 04 fans are travelling to Leipzig.
Broadcaster: Sky (TV), Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
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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Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
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