14 games, 32 points, top spot – Ferencváros are currently on track to win the Hungarian league title for a fourth time in succession. The team under head coach Peter Stöger have not lost a game in the OTP Bank Liga since matchday 10. However: The team from Budapest were only able to draw (1-1) with third-placed Puskas Akademia last Saturday following on from five successive victories in the league with clean sheets in every game. "We didn't get into the goalscoring areas. I would have liked to see more crosses into the penalty area," said Stöger, who used to coach FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund, about his team's lack of penetration.
Ferencváros have yet to pick up any points in the Europa League. With a goal difference of -8, the Hungarians are bottom of Group G. The Stöger team suffered a 2-1 defeat in the meeting at the BayArena and there were also no points against Real Betis (1-3, 0-2) and Celtic (0-2, 2-3). The game against the Werkself will therefore be the last Europa League night for the Budapest team this season as they are already out of the running for the next round.
Stöger will most probably have to manage without full-back Eldar Civic. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international suffered a serious injury against Puskas Akademia. And the 55-year-old will also be without the two midfield players Balint Vecsei and Somalia on Thursday.
There are legitimate hopes for Myrto Uzuni: The 26-year-old winger, previously sidelined for two games due to injury, made his comeback against Puskas Akademia with a 30-minute appearance from the bench. It is possible that he will be in the starting line-up against Bayer 04 – and that will give the hosts a boost in terms of threat on goal. Uzuni is the biggest threat in the Ferencváros squad having scored 20 goals and provided eight assists in 27 games.
The fact Ferencváros have only conceded 12 goals in five Europa League matches, one less than Celtic, is primarily down to the goalkeeper and captain Denes Dibusz. The 19-time Hungary international keeper is – measured on the number of saves – currently the best shot-stopper in the competition. In his four Europa League appearances, the 31-year-old has picked the ball out of the net nine times but he was also able to make a total of 20 saves.
Together with Cezary Miszta (Legia Warsaw) and Bayer 04 captain Lukas Hradecky, he has made the second highest number of saves amongst all the goalkeepers in the group stage – only Celtic's Joe Hart has made more (23). Dibusz will probably be able to extend his record against the Werkself; he is – in contrast to Hradecky, who is to be replaced by Andrey Lunev – set to be in the starting eleven.
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
Show more
Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
Show more
The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
Show more
Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
Show more
The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
Show more
