Schmidt was again asked about the incident with Julian Nagelsmann during Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim when he spoke to the media at Monday’s press conference at the BayArena. “I have already talked about that and apologised to my fellow coach,” said Schmidt: “Now, I’ll wait for the verdict and focus on leading a good final pre-match training session.”
The Werkself are keen to show what they are made of in the DFB Cup. Bayer 04 played Lotte in the first round of the cup last season – when they were a Regional League side – and ran out 3-0 winners. Schmidt and his men will be looking for a similar success tomorrow. However, the coach knows it will not be a walk in the park. “Lotte have started the season well. Last season the pitch was no carpet and then you’ve got the floodlights on top of that. We’re expecting a real cup atmosphere,” said the coach 3:0.
He will be without the services of captain Lars Bender as well as Ömer Toprak after both picked up slight muscle injuries against Hoffenheim, “we hope they will be available for Saturday, “said Schmidt. On top of that, youngsters Julian Brandt and Benjamin Henrichs are both rested after playing so many games in recent weeks and they will not be in the squad.
A thrilling final but with no reward: the Bayer 04 U19s lost 5-4 to 1. FC Köln in the final for the German championship. Sergi Runge's side went into a commanding lead through goals by Artem Stepanov and Jeremiah Mensah, but the visitors battled back and turned it into a 4-2 lead before half-time. Leverkusen then showed their own comeback qualities in the second period, with Francis Onyeka and Kerim Alajbegovic restoring partiy, but Luis Stapelmann snatched the winner for Köln late on.
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They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
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Bayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
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The Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
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