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.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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