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.
From the 2027/28 season, the Women’s Bundesliga will be organised by an independent league association. Following the unanimous decision taken at the DFB Bundestag (national conference) on Friday afternoon, the league’s separation from the DFB is now official.
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The next home fixture is here: Following the winning start to the UEFA Europa League against NK Celje, the Werkself host RB Leipzig at the BayArena on matchday 4 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign. The match on Sunday, 20 September, kicks off at 15:30 CEST. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about the qualities of the opposition and the work being done to improve his team’s performance. The Spaniard also provided updates on Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath.
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Following the Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig (Sunday, 20 September, 15:30 CEST), some of the Werkself first team players will be heading off for the first international break of the season. Here is an overview of the Bayer 04 players called up for their national teams and all the details of their upcoming matches.
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A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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