+++16 March, 16.41 CET+++
Good news from the French Football Association today: Werkself player Moussa Diaby has been called up by Didier Deschamps, the coach of the World Cup runners-up, for the EURO qualifiers against the Netherlands (24 March) and in Ireland three days later. The 23-year-old Bayer 04 winger has made eight international appearances for the Équipe Tricolore to date.
+++16 March, 12.13 CET+++
The warm-up routine at the team hotel is over. The session included muscle exercises, mobility work plus stretching, and - to the delight of the players - it was rounded off with football tennis. Our lads are up to speed and ready for tonight’s game.
+++16 March, 10.49 CET+++
The venue for the Round of 16 second leg is a very special one: The Puskas Arena, Hungary's national stadium, was completed in November 2019 at a cost of €610 million. It is built on the site of the former Nep Stadium that had a capacity of over 100,000. Design elements were taken from the historic venue and the facade of the new stadium with its 40 metre high concrete elements is reminiscent of the previous structure. The stadium was the venue for three group matches and one Round of 16 tie in Euro 2021. The 67,155 capacity Puskas Arena is almost sold out for the clash between Ferencváros and Bayer 04. Moreover: The arena in Budapest is the venue for the Europa League final…
+++16 March, 09.08 CET+++
Good morning from Budapest – it's matchday! As usual, the day starts with breakfast for the Werkself. That's followed by warm-up session at the team hotel.
+++15 March, 19.36 CET+++
The press conference with head coach Xabi Alonso and the captain Lukas Hradecky is over and the duo now head off to the team hotel. Statements from Alonso and Hradecky are HERE.
+++15 March, 17.43 CET+++
The Werkself have landed in Budapest. After a good flight, Xabi Alonso’s squad headed to the team hotel by bus. Coach Alonso and captain Lukas Hradecky will go to the Puskas Arena for the pre-match press conference. We will bring you the key statements later.
+++15 March, 15.23 CET+++
The Bayer 04 team have arrived at Cologne-Bonn Airport and will board the flight to Budapest straightaway. The flight takes around one hour and 45 minutes. We will report again after arrival.
+++15 March, 13.17 CET+++
Speaking at the final session at the BayArena, Simon Rolfes answered questions from the media representatives present. The sporting managing director said regarding the second leg in Budapest: "We looking forward to the game. We can expect an atmospheric arena and that is exactly the European competition feeling you work for over the whole year. We want to win the game and go through to the next round – that's our aim."
In spite of the 2-0 win in the first leg against the Hungarian record champions and record cup winners, the 41-year-old was keen to emphasise that "nothing is decided as yet. The position is okay but we saw in the first leg that Ferencváros are a good team and they had their chances. There will give 100% and we have too as well."
+++15 march, 11.45 CET+++
The 15 minutes of the final pre-match training session at the BayArena, which are open to members of the media, are over. Not on the pitch were Karim Bellarabi (ill) and Patrik Schick who is still struggling with a groin problem. The session now continues behind closed doors.
+++15 March, 10.43 CET+++
Today's schedule for the Werkself is as follows: The official pre-match training session at the BayArena starts at 11.30 CET. The squad then travel by coach to Cologne-Bonn airport for the departure of the team flight to Budapest. On arrival they will travel to the team hotel. The final official event for head coach Xabi Alonso and a selected Werkself player – this time captain Lukas Hradecky – will be at this evening's pre-match press conference at the Puskas Arena.
+++15 March, 09.57 CET+++
The Werkself route to the Round of 16 : Bayer 04 qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League at the start of November as the third-placed team in Champions League Group B. The Black and Reds finished behind Porto and Club Brugge but ahead of Atletico Madrid. The first leg at home against AS Monaco ended in a 3-2 defeat and the same scoreline was repeated in the second leg – albeit in favour of the Werkself – to take the game to extra time. Bayer 04 won on penalties and the Round of 16 draw threw up Ferencváros as the opponents. The first leg against the Hungarian record champions and record cup winners at the BayArena ended in a 2-0 victory for the team under Xabi Alonso.
+++15 March, 09.04 CET+++
The Werkself head abroad for the next game: "Bayer 04 set off for the Hungarian capital this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's Round of 16 second leg against Ferencváros in the Europa League kicking off at 21.00 CET.
The highly successful and mutually appreciated partnership between Bayer 04 and head coach Xabi Alonso ends after two and a half years. The 43-year-old Spaniard has led the Werkself to three trophies. Above all, winning the first German league title in the club's history will always be associated with the name of Xabi Alonso. The former world class player, who won many hearts in Leverkusen as a person, now says farewell to Bayer 04. We look back at a fantastic time with the Basque who fulfilled the biggest dream of all Bayer 04 fans together with an outstanding team.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreA cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen will be the first Bundesliga club to open and operate a football academy in Brazil. The "Bayer 04 Football Academy São Paulo," led by Bayer 04 club legend Paulo Sérgio, will be established on the Bayer Brazil campus in São Paulo and accommodate up to 300 children and youth ages 5 to 15.
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