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."
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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