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
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
The Werkself began 2026 with defeat, losing 4-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga. Jamie Leweling opened the scoring early, with Maximilian Mittelstädt making it 2-0 from a penalty before Leweling again and Deniz Undav increased the lead to 4-0 just before half-time. Alejandro Grimaldo's penalty reduced the deficit midway through the second period.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has gained a new partner in digital gaming platform Crown Coins, which joins the Bundesliga runners-up's Sponsors Club with immediate effect. The one-and-a-half-year contract runs until 30 June 2027.
Show more
The Werkself host VfB Stuttgart this evening (10 January, 18:30 CET), a side whose recent Bundesliga form has been indifferent but who have regularly produced top performances in the DFB Pokal and UEFA Europa League, and who have a key player back in the squad in striker Ermedin Demirovic. Off the pitch, the BayArena faithful will be able to see the remaining stoppage time live on the video screens. The Matchday News.
Show more
