Victory in the top match: suddenly a minor point. And also the impending ninth league title. After the 3-2 win at Wolfsburg, FC Bayern coach Hansi Flick announced he wanted to leave the club in the summer – and that became the number one subject in the sports media in Germany. Despite Flick's clear statement ("I'd like to get out of my contract at the end of the season.") it remains uncertain that it will happen in the end. "I've only expressed my wishes," said the winning coach. "I know I have a contract." And that runs to 2023.
If the departure becomes reality then a success story lasting a good one and a half years will come to the end in the summer. Flick initially took over as interim coach at Bayern in November 2019 and then went on to win everything there was to win. Champions of Germany, DFB Cup winners, Champions League winners, DFL and UEFA Super Cup winners and finally FIFA Club World Cup winners. In this season they can only win one title – and that is very likely since Saturday. After the early exit in the DFB Cup against Holstein Kiel and the narrow defeat against Paris St Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, FC Bayern are fully on course to win their 31st league title. The Munich side made the most of RB Leipzig's draw on Friday night by winning away to the so impressive Wolfsburg team and they are now seven points ahead of second place. FCB could take a big step towards lifting the Bundesliga trophy against the Werkself. It could be a sort of farewell gift for Flick.
With all the discussions of recent days about FC Bayern the name of Robert Lewandowski almost appears to have been forgotten. The current World Player of the Year can still break the 40 goal record set by Gerd Müller in the 1971/72 season. That would very probably already have happened if the Pole had not suffered a ligament injury playing for Poland. It probably means he will also miss the game against the Werkself. Lewandowski is now back in training but it is thought he may well return to the squad at the weekend for the game against Mainz 05.
In addition to Lewandowski, a number of other regular starters are sidelined. It is unlikely that Niklas Süle (muscle problem) and Serge Gnabry (coronavirus) will play. It remains to be seen whether midfielder Leon Goretzka will have a role against the Werkself. The Germany international was an option for a place in the squad at Wolfsburg but a problem with his thigh ruled him out. The options in the centre of the FCB midfield are thereby strongly reduced as Corentin Tolisso is also sidelined after tearing a ligament in February, and Marc Roca recently missed out due to a knee injury. Flick will also probably have to manage without forward Douglas Costa against the Werkself as the match comes too soon after his foot injury.
The fact that Bayern almost went through against PSG and were able to win the away game at Wolfsburg without World Player of the Year Lewandowski and Co. says a lot about the quality of the team. The incredible penetration of the attack was primarily evident in the first half against the Wolves. Without Lewandowski, without Gnabry and also the recently rested Kingsley Coman, Bayern scored three goals against the second best defence in the league. Thomas Müller provided his seventeenth assist of the season and is chasing his own Bundesliga record set last year (21) while the 18-year-old Jamal Musiala netted his first Bundesliga brace and is now the youngest player in the history of the Bundesliga to score six goals in the top-flight. However: If Werkself gem Florian Wirtz scores another goal by the end of the season then Musiala would lose that record.
Bayern's very attractive style of play under Flick has often been at the expense the defence this term. In spite of having a goalkeeper called Manuel Neuer, who is still absolutely world-class, the league leaders have already conceded 38 goals putting them fifth in a league wide comparison – including behind the Werkself. Neuer has kept a clean sheet in just seven of 29 games – too few for the aspirations of the record champions. By comparison: Lukas Hradecky has one more clean sheet – although he has missed five games through injury.
After the fixtures at the weekend, everything points to FC Bayern lifting the Bundesliga title again. The unparalleled injury list, the Champions League exit and various distractions have not stopped the team in their tracks – and the Werkself are Bayern's last opponents from the top third of the table. Much more exciting than the question of "champions or not?" is what happens at FC Bayern Munich in the summer. Bayern fans will not run out of things to talk about in the next few weeks.
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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There was a successful end to the women's internationals with Werkself players Carlotta Wamser and Cornelia Kramer qualifying for the 2027 World Cup finals in Brazil. A third Leverkusen player is still in with a chance of joining them. The Germany U23 players also experienced success in their last two international friendlies of the season.
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Traveling to North America for the World Cup this summer to see your favorite Bayer 04 players? Here’s a quick cheat sheet with thumbnail portraits and insider tips for each city from a local expert, so you can make the most of your visit and activities beyond the game!
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A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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