
While the Werkself have lost just one of their last seven games, Freiburg have done their best work at home and are unbeaten in 10 at the Europa-Park Stadion, winning the last four. Last season it took a classic Laterkusen comeback to turn around a 2-0 deficit there. Like Jonathan Tah’s equaliser in 2024/25, Bayer 04’s second in this term’s 2-0 win was a header, this time from Edmond Tapsoba. The 10 headed goals Freiburg have conceded in 2025/26 is the highest total in the Bundesliga. It’s a weakness that the likes of Tapsoba and Jarell Quansah could punish again. The pair also know they have a goalkeeper behind them in top form. Janis Blaswich has saved 85 percent of shots he’s faced this season, which is the best rate of all keepers in Germany’s top flight.
Defending is generally Freiburg’s strength. Led by the experienced duo of Matthias Ginter and Christian Günter, their rearguard has made the difference several times, especially at home. Schuster’s men have also showed mental resilience, earning 15 points this season from losing positions – second only to Bayern Munich. Igor Matanovic and Vincenzo Grifo are the joint-leading scorers with six goals apiece as the Black Forest club – like Bayer 04 – continue to compete across three competitions. Find out more about Freiburg in our opposition profile.

Around 1,900 fans will be making the journey from Leverkusen to Germany’s southwest corner this Saturday.
The German FA (DFB) have appointed Benjamin Brand to oversee the game. It’s the 36-year-old’s 11th involving the Werkself, including the 3-1 win at RB Leipzig this season. Thomas Stein and Marco Achmüller are the assistants, with Günter Perl the VAR.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme on day one (Sunday 2 August) includes a media round with managing director sport Simon Rolfes, free time for the team after the friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen and before an intensive week of training begins, as well as a coffee get-together where CEO Fernando Carro and Rolfes met around 100 fans in the afternoon.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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