The Bayer 04 players and staff headed off from the BayArena on Sunday afternoon in the direction of Düsseldorf to take up residence at the team hotel. For head coach Peter Bosz and defender Sven Bender there was the pre-match press conference and then the obligatory final training session for the Werkself. We've put together a gallery from the session at the home ground of Fortuna Düsseldorf:
The clash between the North Italians and the Rhinelanders will be refereed by the Spaniard Carlos del Cerro Grande. The 44-year-old has refereed five Champions League games this season and the Europa League game between Ludogorets and Inter (0-2). His assistants in Düsseldorf are fellow countrymen Juan Carlos Yuste Jiminez and Roberto Alonso Fernandez. The fourth official is Jesus Gil Manzano, and the video assistant referee is Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez.
Inter's head coach Antonio Conte talked about the quality of the Werkself team at the pre-match press conference on Sunday night. "Bayer 04 Leverkusen have a lot of talented and quick players who can be very dangerous in counter-attacks," said the 51-year-old. "When we attack, we’ll have to be wary of the pace of the Leverkusen players. We have to be in a position to play our game and make the most of our qualities to cause problems for the opposition."
As in the Round of 16 second leg against Rangers (1-0), Bayer 04 will also be broadcasting the matchday show ahead of the game against Inter. Our presenter Mara will be helping you get in the mood on the club's YouTube channel from 20.30 CEST (click HERE for the show!) and that will include talking to the former Werkself and Inter Milan player Giulio Donati. The 30 year-old has been at US Lecce since the winter and he was in the South Italian team for the 1-1 draw with the runners-up from the fashion capital. Bayer 04 legend Rüdiger Vollborn will also be on the show. As usual, the Werkself Radio will take over just before kick-off. Tune in!
The knockout clash as part of the Europa League finals tournament is the third competitive game between the Nerazzurri and the Black and Reds. There were two matches in the group stage of the Champions League season of 2002/03, which saw the Italians win both games. The first leg in Milan ended in a 3-2 defeat for the Werkself (Bayer 04 goalscorers: Boris Zivkovic and Franca), the second leg in Leverkusen ended with a 2-0 win for the Italians. Bayer 04 will be looking to improve the stats in Düsseldorf and progress to the Europa League semifinals...
Nerd knowledge: The Werkself played three knockout matches at the Arena built in 2004 – and ran out winners on all three occasions. That was in the DFB Cup in 2008/09: against Energie Cottbus, Bayern Munich and Mainz 05.
Leon Bailey and Panos Retsos were a year older on Sunday. Our number three joined Leverkusen in the summer of 2017 but was on loan for the last six months at the Premier League club Sheffield United. The 22-year-old Greek cannot play in the Europa League as the competition is part of the 2019/20 season. Bailey, at Leverkusen since January 2017, celebrated his 23rd birthday at the team hotel in Düsseldorf in the evening after having completed the final pre-match training session with his Werkself teammates. Bayer 04 wish the duo: Many happy returns!
Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
Show more
A warm welcome to Leverkusen, Afonso Moreira! Bayer 04 have signed the 21-year-old Portuguese player from the top-flight French club Lyon. The left-winger has signed a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2031. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the new signing.
Show more
A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
Show more
