In a relaxed session, the players competed on rebound nets or in one-on-ones with mini goals – Peter Bosz walked round the pitch with a board noting the scores. The warm-up routine saw Joel Pohjanpalo return to training. The Finn, who had been in rehab following an injury to his right ankle, completed parts of the full training session for the first time since the end of July..
"I’m taking it slowly as last time it was probably all too quick. I feel good but it's always a question of how the foot reacts. But we carry on, putting more and more stress on the foot and it's getting better and better. That's the way forward," said the 24-year-old after the session. "Of course, setbacks are painful but I feel the confidence of the coach and the players. Being negative in the dressing room doesn't help anybody. So everybody's happy when I make progress." In spite of not being able to work with the ball, Pohjanpalo has worked extremely hard on his fitness over the past few weeks: "I've achieved values like never before. But I've still got a lot to make up in practice."
There is huge anticipation ahead of the Champions League. Equally so for the first home game. Especially as Bayer 04 fans will then have to be patient before the next home appearance in Europe's premier club competition. After the game against Lokomotiv Moscow on 18 September (kick-off: 21.00 CET), the Peter Bosz team have two away fixtures in Group D. The Champions League anthem will only ring out at the BayArena again at the beginning of November on matchday four. Reason enough to secure tickets for the first group match for the Werkself at home to Lokomotiv Moscow. Individual tickets for the Werkself home game against Lokomotiv Moscow went on sale to Club members on Tuesday 3 September. Open sale starts on Thursday 5 September at 10.00 CET.
686 apprentices have started their working life at Bayer AG this year. In yesterday's traditional welcome event at the Leverkusen casino, Rudi Völler welcomed the new trainees to the Bayer family. As in recent years, the sporting managing director also invited this year’s new trainees, working in the Bayer facilities on the Lower Rhine, to watch a Werkself match in the Bundesliga. This season it is the match against Werder Bremen (25-27 October). The trainees in Berlin received an invitation to the Werkself away game in May of next year against Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium in the capital.
Once again golf was played for a good cause on Monday 2 September. Bayer 04 staged the 11th charity golf tournament in support of the Sportförderung gGmbH at the Leverkusen Golf Course. In addition to partners, sponsors and friends of Bayer 04, Werkself players also showed their skills with the golf club at this annual event – Lars Bender and Niklas Lomb had an impressive round. Also on the course were Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro and the former Bayer 04 players Stefan Kießling, Ulf Kirsten and Manuel Friedrich. Food and music for the guests was provided by the SalzburgerLand tourism organisation throughout the day. At the end of the day, the tournament raised €13,500 for good causes.
The organic sandwich box campaign has for many years promoted healthy children's food in numerous cities and regions in Germany. Bayer 04 have consistently supported the initiative of Leverkusen City Council – once again this year as well. Werkself pro Sven Bender helped with packing the reusable breakfast boxes with healthy snacks for breakfast break-time at the 'Nature estate Ophoven'. The organic sandwich boxes will be handed out to first years in the region over the next few days.
The former Bundesliga pro Patrick Owomoyela met up with Kevin Volland at the BayArena for the DFL Interview of the Month. As usual with Owo, Volland and the former pro competed in little games and spoke about life on and off the pitch. A small taster: In the episode to be shown on bundesliga.com next month, the pair can be seen in full ice hockey kit.
Bayer 04 earned a 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Bundesliga Matchday 3 with a late equaliser. The Werkself led at half-time through Christian Kofane's strike but the hosts, who went in the game as league leaders, turned it around with a quickfire double from Michael Gregoritsch after the break. The Black-and-Reds didn't give up, though, and salvaged a point thanks to substitute Patrik Schick's flick in the 89th minute.
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After the first win of the season against 1. FC Union Berlin (4-0) last weekend, the Werkself are aiming to collect another three points at FC Augsburg on Saturday 12 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST). The hosts, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign and go into Matchday 3 top of the table for the first time. The Matchday News.
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The Werkself are away to FC Augsburg on matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game at the WWK Arena against the current – and for the first time – league leaders of the German top flight is on Saturday 12 September at 15:30 CEST. Ahead of the match, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about this week’s training and the team’s approach to the fixture, as they face an opponent brimming with confidence. The Spaniard also addressed a number of squad matters.
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FC Augsburg are top of the table for the first time in their Bundesliga history. After two wins for starters, FCA lead the German top-flight with six points and a goal difference of 7 to 1. This Saturday, 12 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), Augsburg are looking to build on their strong start to the season against the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Following the closure of the 2026 summer transfer window, the Bayer 04 men's and women's first teams lined up for a first-ever joint photo at the BayArena. Werkself fans can now download the official photos for free.
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