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"We are looking forward to the first of at least four busy weeks. Sometimes it's good if you don't have so much time and simply keep on playing the whole time," said Alonso at the start of the press conference. The Spaniard did sound a warning: "We will have problems if we are not 100% on our game against Mainz tomorrow."
The opponents, who have conceded the second least number of goals in the league, are in top form: "They are currently in very good shape. They are very brave on the ball and play with great energy." At the same time, Mainz are also well organised in defence: "They have a fine feeling for when they need to press high when they need to sit back. They've shown that several times against top teams as for example against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund."
Jeanuel Belocian (torn cruciate), Amine Adli and Victor Boniface are still unavailable. Alonso: "Adli can be back with the team by the end of January at the earliest, Boniface could return in the coming week but he needs time to train."
Alonso also had words of praise for Boniface’s fellow striker Patrik Schick: "He not only scores goals but also knows how to defend and knows what a great influence that has on our game." The coach was also positive about defender Piero Hincapie, who set up Schick in the 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund: "We are very happy with his development. He's a real fighter regardless of position and I'm glad he finally provided an assist for Patrik. He's practiced that in training for a long time."
The home section will be sold out on Tuesday night and 1700 visiting fans are expected to travel from Mainz. There are still a few tickets in circulation on the official Bayer 04 ticket exchange .
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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