
Dora Zeller and Lilla Turanyi were in the Hungary line-up in the Euro qualifier against Slovakia but ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Both players were in the starting eleven. Zeller was substituted on 87 minutes while Turanyi went the full distance. Henrietta Csiszár had to drop out late on due to injury. Hungary have missed their last possible chance of qualification in Group F. With seven points from seven games putting them in fourth place, Hungary are no longer able to catch up in the remaining game with Sweden (19 points) and Iceland (13).
Iceland with Sandra Maria Jessen have two games remaining and that puts them in a good chance of finishing amongst the three best group runners-up and thereby qualifying for the European Championships. Iceland were unable to improve their position in the table – the team lost 2-0 without Jessen in the side.
Sylwia Matysik had to miss out in addition to Csiszár. The Pole was called up for the two Euro qualifiers against Azerbaijan (3-0) and Moldova (3-0) but is still struggling with a muscle injury back in Leverkusen. Poland lead the group with 14 points from seven out of eight qualifiers and continue on course for the Euros. In Group D, they are closely followed by Spain (two games fewer) and the Czech Republic each with 13 points.
The DFB course for the Germany U20 Women in Freiburg has been called off at short notice. It was originally planned to run from 18/19 to 27 October and would have included Juliane Wirtz. The two friendlies against France have been cancelled due to the development of the pandemic. At a meeting last week, the general committee of the German Football Association (DFB) decided to call off all international fixtures and courses – with the exception of the men’s U21 team – involving all junior players until the end of the year. With this decision, the DFB are reacting to the increasing coronavirus rates throughout Europe with high numbers of infections in the envisaged training and match venues.


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.
Show more
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.
Show more
To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
Show more
Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
Show more