Hello Adrian, how did it come about that you’re in the Bundesliga Home Challenge with Kai?
In the middle of February, ‘Deto’ and I played against Lucas Alario and Wendell during a PR day and we won 2-0. I don’t know whether the win was down to me (he laughs). When the request came from Florian Dederichs (head of internationalisation and eSports at Bayer 04, ed.) a few days ago, I was happy to say yes.
Professional football is suspended at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic. Have you used your time over the past few days to train on the console?
I mainly spend my time training for real football at the moment and keeping myself as fit as possible. I push the treadmill onto the terrace and train in the garden in the fresh air. Of course, I’ve played a few games on PlayStation over the past few days since I got the thumbs-up but I’m just looking to have fun with it.
What tactics do you prefer on the console?
I used to play PlayStation 2 and 3 as well as FIFA. Over the years, I’ve noticed I’m more of a counter-attacking player who wants to quickly bag a couple of goals and then sit back – I’m not good at holding onto the ball in virtual football. But I’ll definitely ask Kai for one or two tips before the game.
Do you reckon you might get one or two messages from your teammates if you lose to the Darmstadt player Felix Platte?
They’ll definitely get in touch if I do lose… (he laughs)
On the Bundesliga Home Challenge:
The DFL Bundesliga Home Challenge is an eSports tournament with 26 clubs from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 taking part. Each club has a team made up of at least one first team player and a person “from the relevant club or closely linked to it.” The duos – each of them at home – play online in two individual games on the football game FIFA 20 and on PlayStation 4 (‘85-mode’). The matches will be broadcast on the Virtual Bundesliga YouTube channel and the clashes involving Bayer 04 will also be on the ‘b04esports’ Twitch channel. Bayer 04 TV will also show highlights.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-0 win against FC Carl Zeiss Jena on the 21th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Thanks to a masterstroke from Katharina Piljic, the Werkself secured their eleventh win of the season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. On Sunday evening, coach Roberto Pätzold's team beat FC Carl Zeiss Jena 1-0. Midfielder Piljic scored the winning goal with a volley into the corner from the edge of the box (19’) in front of 633 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium - and ensured that Leverkusen moved up to fifth place in the table for at least one night with 34 points.
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Bayer 04 will have to make do without forward Martin Terrier in the next few weeks. The Frenchman sustained a muscle injury in his right hamstring in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.
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Three goals weren’t enough for the Werkself to beat FC Heidenheim on Saturday. The 3-3 stalemate was Bayer 04’s third Bundesliga draw in a row. After a commanding first half and a two-goal lead, “we didn’t get back into our game,” summarised Mark Flekken, who featured between the sticks for the first time in two months. Patrik Schick once again proved his nose for goal, bagging a brace. He is now the third-most prolific Bundesliga scorer in the club’s history. Despite the squandered points, head coach Kasper Hjulmand remains confident ahead of the final spurt of the season: “We’re ready to overcome this situation.” The Werkself review.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 3-3 draw at FC Heidenheim on Matchday 27 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
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