The U19 training group was significantly smaller during the international break. But there are very good reasons for that: A total of eight players were able to show what they could do at first team training and, according to U19 coach Markus von Ahlen, “were able to gain important experience. The feedback was that the lads have done a good job but could have been a little livelier.” For von Ahlen and his fellow coach Patrik Weiser, the promotion of their players resulted in a significantly changed approach to the daily training sessions: “We often only had ten or eleven players in training,” von Ahlen reported. “That means you can work well on an individual basis but, on the other hand, it makes it difficult from the team tactics point of view.”
There is also good news in terms of the injury list. Both Marvin Alexa and Seymour Fünger were able to take part in much of the full training sessions during the international break with Yannick Schlösser and long-term injury Achunike-Elijah Ekene also able to get involved at times. “We hope our incredibly long injury list shortens soon,” said von Ahlen. The coaches will have to manage without the suspended goalkeeper Marcel Johnen with Jakob Brambach again stepping into the breach.
Regardless of their personal situation, Bayer 04 will be looking to register their first home win of the season on Sunday 18 October. With the kick off at 11.00 CEST, the U19s entertain Rot-Weiß Oberhausen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The game will again be played behind closed doors. The opponents have started the season with the maximum six points from their first two games. “Oberhausen have always been a tough opponent in recent years and you have to break them down,” said von Ahlen who says RWO are “very strong up front.” For his team, it is all about, “using space in attacks and improving efficiency both in attack and defence.” The U19s went into the international break on the back of the cup defeat against FC Köln.
The international break for the U17 side lasts a week longer. The team under Jan Hoepner and Tomasz Zdebel have a weekend off in the 17-strong Bundesliga West. The team have a friendly against the TSV Meerbusch U19s on Tuesday 20 October (kick-off: 19.15 CEST) at Kurtekotten.
The other Bayer 04 junior teams also have no competitive games at the weekend. The U8s have a friendly on Saturday 17 October (kick-off: 11.30 CEST) away to the Sportfreunde Königshardt U9s in Oberhausen and the youth teams will play other friendlies during the week.
St. Pauli are the visitors to Leverkusen for today’s 3.30pm CET kick-off on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga, with some 3,000 fans from Hamburg coming to a sold-out BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show moreBayer 04 take on St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years in front of a sold-out BayArena crowd on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about Pauli’s “structure and dynamic”, as well as options in attack in the absence of Patrik Schick and the final run to the end of the year.
Show moreFor the first time in 13 years, Bayer 04 welcome St. Pauli to the BayArena this Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). The promoted side have shown so far that that are a tough nut to crack, while last week’s first home win of the season proves they have potential in attack. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreBayer 04 Women produced an excellent performance to beat Wolfsburg 1-0 at home on Friday night and knock the She-Wolves off top spot in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as the season reached its halfway stage. Cornelia Kramer got the only goal early in the second half in front of a crowd of 1,510 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The result makes it five straight wins in all competitions for Leverkusen, who go top overnight on 26 points – the best total in the club’s history from the first half of a Bundesliga season – ahead of the DFB Pokal holders with 25.
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