Gerardo Seoane looks back at the DFB Cup tie at Lokomotive Leipzig (3-0) with the same positive attitude as he does for the past week in training. The 42-year-old: "We were very well organised and professional in the game in Leipzig. Over the past few days, we've worked intensively on the match against Union and I'm in good spirits now. In addition, There is plenty of proactive communication and the team committee is taking responsibility both on and off the pitch."
Seoane not only has a positive assessment of the football at Bayer 04. The Swiss coach further detailed his impressions of the club: "We have very great expertise in all areas beginning with the board. My direct contact is Simon Rolfes who I work very closely with – as was the case with Christoph Spycher in Bern. It was important to me to discover an environment that supports and backs me up."
Bayer 04 will have to manage without Florian Wirtz for the Bundesliga opener in the capital. The youngster is still ruled out due to injury. In contrast to the cup tie in Leipzig, Paulinho is now back on board. The striker won a gold medal at the Olympics in Japan with the Brazil team and he returned to training during the week. "Paulinho has returned with positive energy and is match fit. He's absolutely an option. Even though he has some strenuous weeks and a long journey behind him, he can help us out with his ability," said head coach Seoane.
The assertiveness and ball control of the 21-year-old could be needed against FC Union Berlin who, according to Seoane, "have established themselves in the Bundesliga the past few years with their playing and battling qualities." One of the main factors in the success of the first German participants in the Europa Conference League is head coach Urs Fischer. The 55-year-old comes from Switzerland like his opposite number at Leverkusen and he "worked very successfully in Switzerland and is now doing it again in the Bundesliga."
Seoane and the Werkself can expect an emotional and intensive first Bundesliga game in front of a good crowd.
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself-Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Barely two weeks since beating St. Pauli in the DFB Pokal quarter-finals, Bayer 04 again welcome the Hamburg club to the BayArena for Matchday 22 in the Bundesliga this Saturday (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The visitors received a welcome confidence boost last weekend with a win over VfB Stuttgart, but the head-to-head record is still very much in Leverkusen’s favour, which Kasper Hjulmand’s team will look to maintain. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win against FC Köln on the 18th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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In preparation for the Bundesliga home match against FC St. Pauli on Saturday, 14 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Werkself had a full week of training for the first time since the first match in 2026. At the press conference ahead of the clash against the relegation-threatened Kiezkicker, coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the intensive work during the week and the lessons learnt. The Dane also announced the good news that Ibrahim Maza is available again.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are strengthening the squad for next season with the addition of Serbia U19 international Aleksa Damjanovic. The 17-year-old centre-forward is set to join the Bundesliga club in the summer from Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. Damjanovic, who also has Austrian citizenship, has signed a long-term contract.
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