Two VBL clashes are shown live each week on Pro Sieben Maxx. For the Leverkusen duo Kai 'Deto' Wollin and Fabian 'B04_Dubzje' de Cae, it was the first TV matchday in the current season. "The broadcast was brilliantly organised. Of course, it's a bit different being live on television instead of playing at home," said 'Deto' who faced Hertha's 'EliasN97 Nerlich on PlayStation in the first individual match.
Hertha mainly restricted themselves to defensive work and they took the lead through an unfortunate situation from the perspective of the Bayer 04 player. 'Deto' continued to battle and levelled at 1-1 on 70 minutes – but that was it. The draw in the first game of the night meant that the Black and Reds had no chance of being top at Christmas. But second spot was within reach.
Wollin's partner, Fabian 'B04_Dubzje' de Cae, has been extremely successful up-to-date. After the outstanding Bremen player Michael 'Megabit' Bittner, the Bayer 04 eSports player has the most wins this season – and another came against the Old Lady from the capital (victory number 14). 'B04_Dubzje' gave his opposite number Leon 'HBSC Blackarrow' Aussieker no chance on Xbox.
After 45 minutes score was already 4-0 and the scoreboard showed 4-1 in the end – and second place was secured. "I dominated the game over 90 minutes. I think, the first half was my best to date in the VBL," said de Cae who was more than happy ahead of the doubles match.
And it was "an evenly balanced clash", said 'Deto' ahead of the last match of the evening. The final score of 1-1 was a fair result and it led the former world champion to draw the following conclusion: "We've picked up five points and won the matchday, so we can be happy with that. We'll try to play as well in the second half of the season and see what happens in the end."
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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