
+++7 September, 23.15 CEST+++
The match at the Jan Breydel Stadium ends with a 1-0 defeat for the Werkself against Club Brugge (HERE is the match report). Reaction to the opening game in the Champions League will be shown on Werkself TV. We wish everybody who travelled with us to Bruges a safe journey home.

+++7 September, 18.02 CEST+++
The Youth League opener is over. Our U19 team got off to a flying start against Club Brugge with Zidan Sertdemir netting the first goal. The team under head coach Sven Hübscher then conceded four goals with the first fixture of the European campaign in 2022/23 ending in a 4-1 defeat. 890 spectators watched the game in Roeselare, including Fernando Carro, Simon Rolfes and Rudi Völler. The Black and Red U19 players now head home to Leverkusen on the team bus. Have a safe journey, lads.
+++7 September, 15.51 CEST+++
As a taster ahead of this evening's Champions League game, Werkself TV is broadcasting the match between our U19 team and Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League. The kick-off is at 16.00 CEST and the live stream is HERE.
+++7 September, 10.10 CEST+++
The Werkself are about to set off on the team bus for the warm-up session at the Jan Breydel Stadium. A suitable point in time to provide some information on today's venue: The stadium was opened in 1975 and has a capacity of 29,000. The ground is named after Jan Breydel one of the leaders of the Bruges matins – a bloody rebellion against the French King Philip IV at the start of the 14th century.

+++7 September, 8.27 CEST+++
Good morning from Bruges. The first players are at breakfast and we take a quick look at today's agenda: There is a warm-up session at 11 o'clock, followed by lunch, the team meeting plus the pre-match meal. The kick-off at the Jan Breydel Stadium is at 21.00 CEST..
+++6 September, 18.57 CEST+++
Our lads have inspected the pitch at the Jan Breydel Stadium and now they are off to the team hotel in the best of moods and with great anticipation ahead of tomorrow's match with the evening meal the last agenda item on the day of arrival. Lukas Hradecky and Co. will than have time to chill out.

+++6 September, 17.11 CEST+++
The arrival of the Werkself is gradually drawing to a close. In around 30 minutes, the destination of the Jan Breydel Stadium will have been reached. The pre-match press conference with head coach Gerardo Seoane and Robert Andrich will start in about an hour. The statements from the duo will appear later on our channels.
+++6 September, 15.50 CEST+++
The following 21 Werkself players are on the team bus: Lukas Hradecky, Niklas Lomb, Maximilian Neutgens (all goalkeepers), Piero Hincapie, Jonathan Tah, Mitchel Bakker, Odilon Kossounou, Paulinho, Robert Andrich, Sardar Azmoun, Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri, Edmond Tapsoba, Patrik Schick, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Moussa Diaby, Charles Aránguiz, Adam Hlozek, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Exequiel Palacios and Jeremie Frimpong.

+++6 September, 13.37 CEST+++
Training and lunch are over and the Bayer 04 group set off a few minutes ago. Lukas Hradecky and Co. face a three and a half hour journey on the team bus with the first stop at the Jan Breydel Stadium of Club Brugge. Have a good trip, everybody.
+++6 September, 11.02 CEST+++
The final pre-match training session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is underway. Three goalkeepers and 19 outfield players are taking part – of course, with the new UEFA Champions League balls at their feet...

+++ 6 September, 10.17 CEST+++
The Werkself meet up for the final session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 11.00 CEST ahead of the away game in the Champions League. The Black and Red group will then head off by coach to West Flanders. On the agenda in the evening is a view of the pitch and the press conference at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
+++6 September, 09.34 CEST+++
The Werkself are back in the UEFA Champions League: After a break of two years, the Werkself are away to Club Brugge tomorrow night in the first group match. The kick-off at the Jan Breydel Stadium is at 21.00 CEST.

With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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