The international break is over and the Blacks and Reds return to Bundesliga action. VfL Bochum visit the BayArena for the first time since August 2009. It is the start of the end of year run-in: "We know we didn't pick up the points we needed in the period before the international break," declared Gerardo Seoane, "but we also know the circumstances of recent weeks. The team have really put in a shift recently."
They "played well" against Real Betis (4-0) and "passed the test in terms of mentality and group dynamics" in the 1-1 draw away to Hertha Berlin. The Werkself performances are on the right track. Seoane: "These two games give us a good feeling but they are way back in the past. There have been a number of internationals in between. It's as if we're starting all over again."
The Swiss coach will definitely have to manage without Julian Baumgartlinger, Mitchel Bakker, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Lucas Alario on Saturday as they are all injured. With the rest of the squad it is a question of waiting for a reaction to the final training session and considering the risks given the seven remaining matches to the Christmas break.
Florian Wirtz, who has recently been suffering with muscular problems to his hip, is an option for the clash with VfL. "Flo is not in pain at the moment but he can't get over it completely overnight. We'll have to keep an eye on him. His physical condition is looking very positive at the moment."
The team from Castroper Straße have won three of their last four Bundesliga matches – against TSG Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt (both 2-0) and at Greuther Fürth (1-0). "They have performed really well recently," emphasised the 43-year-old before adding: "We need to enjoy our game and keep moving to find solutions against a well-organised opponent."
Following the 4-0 home win against Real Betis in the Europa League, the Werkself definitely want to pick up three points at home in the Bundesliga. "Obviously," Seoane said, "we always want to get a result at home and three points if possible. That's what we aim for. But the important thing is to do what we need to make that happen." Or put another way: What happens on the pitch is crucial.
22,000 tickets have been sold for the North Rhine-Westphalia clash on Saturday afternoon. The 2G rule applies at the BayArena as in recent games. Anybody who has been vaccinated against or has recovered from Covid-19 can purchase tickets online until just before kick-off; ticket offices will not open on matchday. HERE is the key fan information.
After being nominated for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025, Martin Terrier's wonderful strike for the opener against FC Köln is now also up for selection for the ARD Sportschau Goal of the Month award for December 2025. Bayer 04 fans have until 19:00 CET on 10 January to vote for the French forward.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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"In every ending lies a new beginning" is a well-known saying. This phrase has probably never been more apt at Bayer 04. After winning the Bundesliga in 2023/24 and finishing as runners-up in 2024/25, the summer was the most eventful ever in terms of transfers. Over ten players and the coach, including the coaching staff, left the club. A lot of the heroes of the double-winning side began a new chapter. It was the end of an era. And at the same time the beginning of a new, very exciting and promising chapter for Leverkusen. The Werkself welcomed more than a dozen new arrivals, including experienced title-winners and young talents, to build a new "foundation for a successful team capable of winning titles" under the Bayer Cross, as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. A new spirit, a new hunger, a new story was to be created. Bayer04.de looks back at the first few months of this story and the final act of the preseason.
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43 points at the end of the last Bundesliga season were not only more than ever before for the Bayer 04 Women, but also led to a record fourth-place finish. That was followed by a Hinrunde with many more victories, but also some setbacks. In an interview with bayer04.de, sporting director Achim Feifel takes stock at the end of the year.
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With their wonderful goals, Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz are up for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025. Voting for fans will run exclusively via the official Bundesliga app until Sunday, 4 January.
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