A total of 25 players took part in the final pre-match training session on Wednesday morning ahead of the first chance to win the Europa League group. Charles Aránguiz, Lucas Alario, Patrik Schick and Karim Bellarabi were all involved at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium after missing recent matches.
The only players missing were the injured Julian Baumgartlinger and Mitchel Bakker plus Kerem Demirbay, who is unable to play on Thursday due to a red card in the last Europa League match against Real Betis (4-0). The playmaker, who suffered a blow to his ribs at the weekend in the 1-0 win against VfL Bochum, completed a rehab session at the gym at the BayArena.
Agenda item number one on the pitch at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium was the obligatory birthday greeting for Lukas Hradecky. The 32-year-old Werkself captain was welcomed by a ‘guard of honour’ of his teammates. Then the players in white went on to complete a warm-up routine with fitness coach Bob Schoos before working with the ball.
Kerem Demirbay was shown a red card in the final minutes of the fourth group match against Real Betis at the start of November. There is talk of the midfielder having to serve a three-match ban in the Europa League. Bayer 04 are in contact with UEFA and are looking to achieve a reduction in the suspension. As stated, Demirbay will definitely miss the game against Celtic.
The Celtic group land in Germany in the early evening on Wednesday and head straight to the team hotel; the final pre-match training session and press conference for Joe Hart and Co. were held in Scotland.
Coach Ange Postecoglou praised the quality of the Werkself on Wednesday. “They are a good team who who have hit form in the league. We know what they can do and what we will face. They are a Champions League team,” said the Celtic boss.
Lukas Hradecky celebrated his 32nd birthday one day ahead of the Europa League clash. The Werkself goalkeeper and captain of the Werkself signed for Bayer 04 from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018. The Finn has made 107 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Reds to date and he became captain of the team this season. Many happy returns, Lukas!
The former Leverkusen assistant coach Hendrik ‘Hendrie’ Krüzen celebrates his 57th birthday today (Wednesday). The Dutchman joined Bayer 04 with former Werkself head coach Peter Bosz just before Christmas 2018 and was in the Black and Red dugout for 108 games. The Dutch coaches ended their time at Leverkusen in March of this year and Krüzen and Co. are now at the top French club Lyon. Happy birthday, Hendrie.
Ibrahim Maza joined Bayer 04 from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025. The youngster from Berlin developed into a difference-maker in his first season with the Werkself. Find out what makes the highly talented player tick in this very personal interview. Among other things, Maza talks about his Algerian-Vietnamese-German home, the role of his family and the importance of Islam for him both in his private life and in football...
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Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among the three nominees for the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season award. Fans have until 23:59 CEST on Thursday, 7 May to cast their votes in the official Bundesliga app.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bayer 04 Women have kept their chance of qualifying for the Champions League alive in the Bundesliga run-in. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 4-0 at SGS Essen on Sunday afternoon, improving their record from last season to 14 wins this term. With 43 points, the Werkself equalled another record from the 2024/25 season and at the same time reduced the gap to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to two points, at least for tonight. Loreen Bender (4’), Kristin Kögel (41’, 68’) and Cornelia Kramer (89’) scored for the Black and Reds, who dominated the game to record their fourth win on the bounce.
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