The Kölnische Rundschau reports a "huge step" in the direction of the next round and assesses the clash with Be’er Sheva as "one-sided" in favour of the Werkself. Furthermore: "Leverkusen took hold of the reins and forced their game on the defensive Israelis."
The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports a "job done." The 90 minutes at the BayArena were "chilly and tough.". The performances of the captain Jonathan Tah and starting eleven returnee Patrik Schick were rated 2.5, Leon Bailey was able to enjoy getting a 2 – the best assessment of the night.
The headline in the Bild Zeitung reads: "Bayer almost through", the Round of 32 "as good as achieved." Looking at the goal scored by Schick, who has been sidelined for several weeks due to injury, the tabloid opts for these words: "All is SCHICK in the Europa League too!"
The Werkself goals? Comments include "beautifully worked," a "great free kick" – and "a goal for Diego.” After coming on as a substitute, Lucas Alario rounded off the scoring at 4-1. Before kick-off, the centre forward warmed up in a top with a number 10 and the name Maradona on it in memory of the Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60.
The Rheinische Post starts its reporting with a look at the Black and Red injury list. "Even without seven first-team players, the team under coach Peter Bosz cleared the hurdle without any problems." The Werkself now have "one foot in the Round of 32." The newspaper uses the adjectives "easy", "commanding", "dominant" and "one-sided" to describe the third win in the fourth group match for Bayer 04.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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