They completed the final pre-match training session on Monday morning as well as the two highly intense sessions the day before: Robert Andrich and Karim Bellarabi have returned from injury – and are available for the return game against Atalanta. In response to a question about Andrich, Gerardo Seoane explained: "Rob contributes a certain factor. His distinctive ball-winning ability and uncompromising approach, including in the air, is good for our game."
Missing for the second leg are Florian Wirtz (torn cruciate), Jeremie Frimpong (ankle ligament injury), Patrik Schick (thigh), goalkeeper Andrey Lunev (rehab after ankle injury) plus Julian Baumgartlinger, who was not named in the Europa League squad due to numbers.
The situation is clear. Given the defeat in the first leg, the hosts at the BayArena have to win to reach the quarter-finals. "That doesn't change our basic approach. We always go onto the pitch to win the game," declared Seoane. "It's an important match for both teams and both have the ambition to go through to the next round."
The Swiss coach said about the team currently seventh in Serie A: "Atalanta are an unflappable team with high intensity and ball-winning ability," said the 43-year-old boss. "We will need a more consistent performance than in the first leg." And as a unit if possible. Due to the long term absence of Wirtz and Frimpong, everybody in the team and on the staff is aware that "we all have to pull even closer together."
Midfield dynamo Exequiel Palacios was also on the top table at the Media Centre at the BayArena on Wednesday. The Argentina international compared the forthcoming knockout game to a final but also emphasised: "It will be an intense dual against a good opponent. Above all, we have to close off their counter-attacks and be very focused in midfield."
Asked about his injured teammates Wirtz and Frimpong, the 23-year-old midfielder said: "Of course, they are key players in our system. But we also have a lot of other good lads with great quality who can make up for their absence," Palacios concluded: "We will give our all for the two of them but also for our fans at the stadium."
A cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 have now gone 33 Bundesliga away games in succession without defeat and thereby equalled the record set by Bayern Munich: Jonathan Tah netted the equaliser at 2-2 in added time away to SC Freiburg on his 400th appearance for the Werkself. SCF took a 2-0 lead with a strike from Maximilian Eggestein (44') and a Piero Hincapie own goal (48') before Florian Wirtz pulled a goal back on 82 minutes.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at SC Freiburg on the 32nd matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreThe Werkself are away to SC Freiburg on Bundesliga Matchday 32. The penultimate away game of the season is today Sunday, 4 May with a 17:30 CEST kick-off at the Europa Park Stadion. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
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