The Bundesliga is not the only league where there is tight race for top spot this season: The Italian top-flight is proving more exciting than for a long while. After the 3-0 win against the Werkself in the Champions League at the beginning of October, Juve went on impressive run with nine wins and one draw. However, the perennial champions have a real competitor in the battle for the top spot in Inter Milan - and the Bianconeri have had to relinquish top spot for the first time since the middle of October.
The reason for that is the first defeat in the current league campaign: The team coached by Maurizio Sarri suffered a defeat at third-placed Lazio on Saturday night although Cristiano Ronaldo did score the opening goal in a 3-1 defeat. A minor setback for the Turin side used to success.
The Turin team are already through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as winners of Group D and it could well be that one or two first choice players are rested ahead of the run-in the end of the year. It is also certain that the Germany internationals Emre Can (not selected for CL squad) and Sami Khedira (injured) will not travel to Leverkusen. Sarri has limited choice in midfield as Roderigo Bentancur had to go off injured against Lazio and is now ruled out as well.
According to the kicker, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and central defender Matthijs de Ligt could be rested. The latter made his professional debut for Ajax in 2016 under the current Bayer 04 head coach Peter Bosz: Whether or not, one or the other regular players are rested, the Old Lady has strength in depth with a squad that has great European experience and they are capable of making life difficult for the Werkself.
Gianluigi Buffon will probably play in place of Szczęsny. He is set to make his 146th appearance on the European stage and it would also represent a reunion with the BayArena. In the group stage of the Champions League campaign in 2001/02, Gigi travelled to Leverkusen with the Old Lady. Bayer 04 had to win on matchday five of the group stage to have a chance of qualifying for the knockout rounds. That's what happened on 12 March 2002: Jörg Butt with a penalty (24'), Thomas Brdaric (71’) and Marko Babic (90') put the ball in the net of the Italian legend in a 3-1 win for the Werkself on course for a place in the final of the Champions League in that season.
Alejo Sarco has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Sporting Gijón in Spain’s second division. Bayer 04 have secured a buy-back clause for the 20-year-old Argentine striker, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed 16-year-old midfield prospect Gabriel Minutillo on a long-term contract. The Germany youth international will play for the U19s this season.
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Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir for the time being.
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