Xabi Alonso: "It will be a difficult game for both sides. Breast have a clear idea of how they want to play football. They have big hunger and desire to win every game." But the Spaniard also stressed: "But we don't want to change our style of play because of that but instead remain true to ourselves. We want to continue the run we started in Rotterdam. Tomorrow's game is very important."
Martin Terrier also sounded a warning about the opponents: "They had an outstanding season last term. This season has been more difficult for them in the league and they've lost four games. But they are performing better in the Champions League. They've rediscovered their former strength there. So we shouldn't underestimate them."
The new signing, who played for Stade Rennes from 2020 to 2024, has never scored at the Stade de Roudourou. "But I've never lost here either," joked the Frenchman. Alonso added: "Of course, we want that to continue tomorrow."
Terrier also talked about his move to the Bundesliga in the summer: "I've been able to settle in quickly, the lads made it easy for me. I've tried to listen to my teammates a lot and learn from them. It’s similar on the pitch as a lot of players interpret their position in different ways."
The Frenchman was initially surprised by the intensity in the Bundesliga: "The intensity is the big difference to Ligue 1 – both in the games and in training. I have to admit that it also impressed me at first. Even the teams in the bottom third of the table play in that style and want to score goals. It's not like that in France."
750 Werkself fans will be at the game. Alonso almost has a full squad to choose from. Only Victor Boniface has stayed in Leverkusen after his car accident: "It's a purely precautionary measure. He's doing well physically but we want to rest him. Following the accident it's primarily about Victor Boniface as a person and not as a player. It was a serious matter and a shock for the two of them and us all. They were lucky. Things like that can happen to anybody at any time. We'll see how he is when we get back."
U19 player Francis Onyeka, who was awarded the Fritz Walter medal this week, is in the squad. Alonso on the youngster: "We have great hopes for him but we obviously need to be patient. He’s come closer to the team with the last training sessions. I'm happy for him that he is able to gain Champions League experience."
Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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Moussa Diaby is back! In his first interview since returning to Bayer Leverkusen, Moussa Diaby talks, amongst other things, about how it feels to be back in Leverkusen, as well as his connection to the city, the club and the fans.
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