The new Swiss coach’s fourth Bundesliga game in charge of Bayer 04 promises the same high-class play as the previous matches. “Dortmund are an ambitious club who want to be at the top. They’ve got a lot of quality in their squad, especially in attack,” Seoane explained before also stressing that “we want to and will have a say in matters. Every opponent offers possibilities. We won’t hide away.” It’s an approach that’s worked well so far for the Werkself.
The opening 1-1 draw at Union Berlin was followed by two comfortable wins over Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-0) and at Augsburg (4-1). The home victory over the Foals is one that Seoane would like to use as a benchmark. “Like against Gladbach, it’ll be important to get into the game immediately and find each other as quickly as possible,” the 42-year-old said.
The atmosphere in the sold-out BayArena was fantastic on that Saturday evening. New coronavirus measures mean around another 2,500 spectators will be allowed in for the game with BVB. “We’re delighted we’re playing at home, in front of our fans,” Seoane stressed. A maximum of 17,605 people will be present to witness the game.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Edmond Tapsoba and Julian Baumgartlinger are the squad’s long-term injury absentees going into Saturday. Apart from Exequiel Palacios, Piero Hincapie and Charles Aránguiz, all international players are back and free of injury. While the latter two definitely won’t be in the matchday squad, Palacios could be involved in some capacity. “He should land in Europe tonight, then we’ll see whether he’s physically ready to play tomorrow,” explained Seoane, who can at least call upon Lucas Alario and Karim Bellarabi once again following their lay-offs.
Further info on the match:
Referee: To be confirmed on the day of the game
Attendance: 17,605 (sold out under coronavirus regulations)
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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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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