Ahead of his move to Leverkusen for the 2019/20 season, Moussa Diaby, who was voted Player of the Season by Bayer 04 Club members, played for Paris Saint-Germain for one season – and he was twice in the line-up against Nice (0-3, 1-1). “They have a very good style of play as far as possession football is concerned, like to attack and want to get the ball forward as quickly as possible,” said the 21-year-old at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “I’m confident we can produce a good performance. We want to start with a win.”
While head coach Peter Bosz can call on his winger against the team that finished fifth in Ligue 1 last term, there is a question mark over two players. Captain Charles Aránguiz was substituted due to a knock after 45 minutes in the 1-0 win at Mainz. “We’ll only include him if he’s 100% fit. But that probably won’t be the case,” said Bosz who went on to say about youngster Florian Wirtz (stomach muscle problem): “We’ll wait and see what happens at today’s training session and see how his body is reacted to yesterday’s session.”
One player from the forthcoming opponents from the Côte d’Azur is well-known to the 56-year-old. In 2016/17, Bosz coached the top Dutch team Ajax with Kasper Dolberg in the squad. The central striker is now playing for Nice but the 23-year-old is a doubt due to injury.
With or without Dolberg – “Nice are a very strong team, a good opponent,” declared Bosz. “But we have have our own qualities. Above all, we have done very well in defence up to now and only conceded a few shots on goal. We want to make a successful start to the competition tomorrow.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: DAZN and Werks11 Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: Fran Jovic (Croatia)
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
Show more
A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
Show more
Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
Show more
Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
Show more
