In search of a win away to Greuther Fürth, the main focus at the BayArena this week was on attacking. "What we've recently been missing is definitely being clinical in the final third," said head coach Gerardo Seoane at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The past few days has seen more one-to-one discussions as well as individual video analysis. "We've said to the lads what we demand and expect of them in each game: brave and direct approaches to the penalty area but also shots from outside the box."
In spite of the Cloverleaves being bottom and facing relegation (eleven-point gap to sixteenth place), Seoane believes his team face a demanding challenge – also due to the changed approach that has brought more stability to the Fürth defence in recent games: "They’ve played good football for a long time. They will be courageous and compact at home as they are in every game," analysed the Swiss coach. "For me, our performance on the day is crucial. We have to be more offensive and pose more of a threat on goal without losing our defensive shape."
How the Werkself defence will line-up will only become clear after the final pre-match training session on Friday afternoon. Edmond Tapsoba received a kick on the ankle in the 1-0 home defeat against RB Leipzig last Sunday and he still had slight problems on Thursday. Seoane on the 23-year-old central defender: "If the final training session is normal for Eddy then he'll be with us tomorrow."
In the event that Tapsoba is not available in time, the head coach has left-footed Daley Sinkgraven in mind for the right side of defence; the right-footed Odilon Kossounou would move into central defence alongside Jonathan Tah. "Of course, it's different for a player in terms of orientation but you can make your mark offensively on the ‘wrong’ side. Daley has high technical quality and great game intelligence that will obviously help him in a different position," said Seoane about the Dutchman.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
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Alejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
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Second game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
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In the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
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Bayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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