Back
31.10.2022Champions League

Club Brugge home game 'good time to turn things round'

The Werkself entertain Club Brugge on Tuesday 1 November (kick-off: 18.45 CET) – and a good result is needed for the chance to play in Europe in the New Year. In the sixth and final group match in the UEFA Champions League, head coach Xabi Alonso is looking to take his team above Atlético Madrid into third place and also secure "a victory for our morale" as midfielder Nadiem Amiri declared.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

"We want to stay in Europe and give our fans another international home game," said head coach Xabi Alonso at the start of the press conference on Monday afternoon. "Being in the Europa League is very important for the team, the fans and the whole club. We will fight and give our all."

The following permutations are possible for the Werkself to finish third in Champions League Group B: If Bayer 04 win then a defeat or a draw for Atlético Madrid in Porto would be enough to finish third and thereby qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League. If the Alonso team only pick up one point against Club Brugge then the Madrid team would have to lose at Porto for Bayer 04 to remain in Europe.

Xabi Alonso does not want to think about that during the game. The Spaniard: "I won't follow the other game. We have to look to ourselves and we want to win to have as big a chance of possible of being in Europe in the New Year."

Aránguiz out– Demirbay may play

In addition to Florian Wirtz and Sardar Azmoun, head coach Xabi Alonso will also have to manage without the injured Karim Bellarabi and Charles Aránguiz. Daley Sinkgraven is not registered for the Champions League and Piero Hincapie is serving a one-match ban. A decision will be made after the afternoon training session regarding a place in the squad for Kerem Demirbay who did not play in the last two matches.

Amiri: "important for the morale of the team"

Xabi Alonso was joined at the press conference on Monday afternoon by Nadiem Amiri who also fielded questions from the media. There was "obvious disappointment" at going out of the Champions League but the team will give everything to get a win against Club Brugge. "The match is a good time to turn things round," said the Werkself number 11.

crop_20221031_FS_CLPK_47549.jpg

In the intense Champions League match at Atlético Madrid (2-2) there was a lack of energy in the 2-0 defeat in Leipzig but the Werkself are ready for Club Brugge who have already qualified to the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Amiri stressed how important good recovery and lots of sleep is ahead of the game: "We are full of energy and we'll give our all."

Related News

2526_VBL_SD4_RC_0424.jpg
eSports - 05.03.2026

#B04eSports: Give everything in biggest club event on the German eSports scene

For the third time in a row, the Leverkusen eSports players have made it through to the final round of the VBL Club Championship. From 7 to 8 March, they will compete for the German Club Championship at XPERION in Hamburg. At the start of the final round, they face Hamburger SV in the Round of 16. The match starts at 19:30 CET on Saturday, 7 March and will be broadcast live on the VBL Twitch channel. The eSports preview.

Show more
Werkself triumph 1-0 in rearranged match at Hamburg | 17th matchday
Werkself-TV - 04.03.2026

TV highlights of 1-0 win in rearranged match at Hamburg

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-0 win in rearranged match at Hamburger SV on Matchday 17 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #HSVB04
Bundesliga - 04.03.2026

Matchday News #HSVB04: First meeting with Hamburg in eight years

Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time since February 2018 in their rearranged Bundesliga Matchday 17 clash. After long years in the second division, the Red Shorts have gradually reestablished themselves in the top flight this season, thanks in particular to their strong home record and third-best tackle success rate in the league. There'll be a fierce battle in the air too, as three of the highest-scoring centre-backs in the Bundesliga could be on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion - two of them for Leverkusen. The Matchday News.

Show more
Edmond Tapsoba und Alejandro Grimaldo
Bayer 04 - 04.03.2026

Vote for Tapsoba or Grimaldo as February Player of the Month now!

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), has announced the six nominees for the February 2026 Bundesliga Player of the Month award. Not one, but two Werkself players are on the list in Edmond Tapsoba and Alejandro Grimaldo. Supporters of the Black-and-Reds have from now until midnight on Sunday 8 March to vote!

Show more