The Werkself number four suffered painful bruising to his lower leg in the DFB Cup tie at Aachen and was only able to train on his own on Monday. However, he is expected to be available for the first home game of the season on Saturday.
Lars Bender is also confident about playing against the newly promoted team at the weekend. The captain has recovered from a pulled muscle and he took a full part in training on Monday before confirming: "Everything's good. I'm on course."
In addition to Lars Bender, Tin Jedvaj returned to join his team-mates. The Croat World Cup runner-up has recently been sidelined due to back problems. The same applies to Lukas Hradecky. The keeper was suffering from gastroenteritis at the end of last week but on Monday he was diving around at the training ground again. Mitchell Weiser is not quite so close to returning. At the moment, he's working one-to-one with rehab coach Daniel Jouvin but he should return to full training in the near future.
Around 4,000 Werkself fans followed the team to Aachen last Saturday and they provided vocal support. "It was really great," said Jonathan Tah about the black and red support at the Tivoli. "We've got ambitious targets in the cup as well. And, of course, that sort of backing helps."
Was it 26 seconds? Or was it 21 seconds that Leon Bailey needed to score the third goal against Alemannia Aachen after coming off the bench? It was "definitely the quickest goal of my career," said the Jamaican who came on with clear instructions from head coach Peter Bosz: "I was supposed to make my runs. The opposition moved further and further up so that left space behind the back four." Bailey did as he was told and was immediately rewarded with a goal one day after his 22nd birthday. "Of course, that was perfect."
Last Thursday, 8 August, Peter Hermann watched the Werkself train together with team manager Hans-Peter Lehnhoff and on Monday the DFB announced the role the Bayer 04 legend has accepted. Hermann, who was at Leverkusen for nearly 30 years as a player and coach, will assist head coach Christian Wörns in running the Germany U18 team. "Peter Hermann is an institution in German football and we have been able to bring him in for our youth teams and also for youth development across Germany," said Joti Chatzialexiou, the sporting director of the national teams. Hermann and Wörns got to know each other at Leverkusen. Hermann was assistant coach to Reinhard Saftig when the former Germany international signed for the Werkself in 1991.
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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There was a successful end to the women's internationals with Werkself players Carlotta Wamser and Cornelia Kramer qualifying for the 2027 World Cup finals in Brazil. A third Leverkusen player is still in with a chance of joining them. The Germany U23 players also experienced success in their last two international friendlies of the season.
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Traveling to North America for the World Cup this summer to see your favorite Bayer 04 players? Here’s a quick cheat sheet with thumbnail portraits and insider tips for each city from a local expert, so you can make the most of your visit and activities beyond the game!
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A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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