The headline of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger reads "Havertz is Herrlich's hero" and the report continues: "After going 2-0 down, it needed an individual performance from Kai Havertz to get back in touch. The 19-year-old received the ball from a rebound outside the penalty area, he turned and shoot through a crowd of players With laser-like accuracy into the back of the net. Bayer 04 were back in the game… Above all, Julian Brandt took a grip of the game and constantly provided a threat down the wings with his runs. That brought about the equaliser on 64 minutes. The international player broke down the left, crossed into the middle and goalkeeper Renan parried the ball to the feet of the Swede Isaac Kiese Thelin who had an easy tap-in. The Bulgarians were overawed and it demonstrated that the pride of Leverkusen in their big talents is not unjustified. Kai Havertz took control the ball on the edge of the box but this time turn in the other direction and smashed an unstoppable shot into the net with his right foot. The match had been turned round and that was down to the youngest international in the Leverkusen club's history."
And the Kölnische Rundschau noted the performance of Kai Havertz with a star: "Young international Kai Havertz sealed a moral victory for Bayer Leverkusen in the middle of a crisis. The 19-year-old was the outstanding player, with his two goals, in the 3-2 win for the Werkself in the opening fixture in the Europa League away to the Bulgarian serial champions Ludogorets Rasgrad on Thursday."
The Bild Zeitung – no surprise – does not see it any differently: "A brilliant win: Havertz turns it round." The text reads: "Leverkusen are back after coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 away to the Bulgarian team Ludogorets Rasgrad. Leverkusen hit back clinically! Havertz (Bild top mark- 1) twice conjured the ball into the net from the edge of the box (38'/69') – world class!"
The same goes for the Cologne newspaper Express. "Havertz helps Herrlich with a double strike" and it continues "Deep breath, Bayer 04! After the absolute false start in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made amends in the Europa League. Kai Havertz was the man of the match."
Huge compliments in the Kicker: "This revival was down to Kai Havertz who was Leverkusen's most impressive player and he played a decisive role with two goals from outside the box: First, pulling a goal back before the break and then netting the winner with a fine move. Moments that made his captain wax lyrical. 'We were 2-0 down and he plucked up the courage and smashed it with his two goals. He's a great player,' said Lars Bender in praise of the 19-year-old."
Whether it's sport or his private live: Captain Edmond Tapsoba tells us his top three personal favourites in twelve categories in edition #56 of the Werkself Magazine. The defender had to answer as quickly as he reacts on the pitch. 'On the Podium' with Edmond Tapsoba!
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“Year after year, this is an incredibly valuable gathering, both in terms of the content covered and the opportunity for mutual discussion,” stressed Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach David Thiel in his welcoming address at this year’s goalkeeping coaches’ meeting. This was the third time in four seasons that the event had been held at the BayArena. Organised by the German Football Association (DFB), the meeting brought together goalkeeping coaches from the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and the 3rd division from the west region. For the first time this year, goalkeeping coaches from the youth performance centres (NLZ) were also present. Bayer 04 fitness coach Markus Müller provided fascinating insights into the specific fitness training carried out with the Werkself’s goalkeepers.
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A floodlit derby, two further night games and a top-of-the-table clash on a Saturday afternoon: The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed the exact dates for four further matchdays in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. This means all fixtures for the Bayer 04 women’s team up to the end of the year, as well as the first two in 2027, are now confirmed.
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It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and the matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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