Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
The double season is behind us as Xabi Alonso looks forward. "Like all teams we are starting with no points. Last season's success does not give us anything for the new campaign," said the Spaniard at the pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. "We have to start picking up points again and work hard to achieve that."
The Werkself will go into the first game of the new Bundesliga season with great anticipation and motivation. "It's special to play in an opening match. The stadium in Mönchengladbach is big, there will be a special atmosphere – also thanks to our many fans at the game," said Alonso whose team will have the backing of 5,000 supporters in a full away end at Borussia Park.
The last meeting of the Werkself and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena at the end of January ended goalless. The team under former Leverkusen head coach Gerardo Seoane adopted a more defensive approach back then. Alonso is not expecting the same on Friday night: "Above all in attack, they have signed new players like Tim Kleindienst (FC Heidenheim 1846, ed.). It will be a different game from the one at the start of the year."
Alonso is ignoring the fact the Werkself are seen by many pundits as favourites for this match and the new Bundesliga season ahead. The 42-year-old coach: "Those opinions don't mean a thing. For me FC Bayern are the favourites again this term. Our clear target is the top four. The first thing for us is to make a good start to the season. And I feel good about that."
Bayer 04 signed three new players in the summer in Aleix Garcia, Jeanuel Belocian and Martin Terrier. Alonso responded to a question about them as follows: "Their quality and mentality are top and they have taken our style of play on board. I'm happy with the squad and the players."
The question of whether any of the new trio will be in the starting line-up against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday night was left unanswered as was the choice up front between Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface. And the Spaniard did not want to give anything away about his choice of keeper: "The decision of whether Lukas (Hradecky) or Matej (Kovar) will start remains open – but you will see tomorrow night. It's also not a decision for the whole season and we'll see what happens. Both are ready."
Bayer 04 has secured a new premium partner in DXC Technology, a leading provider of enterprise technology and innovation. The club has agreed a partnership with DXC running until 30 June 2028. At the heart of the partnership is DXC’s role as an AI integration partner. The company is integrating Bayer 04’s previously separate digital systems into a unified fan journey that begins long before matchday and extends well beyond the stadium visit. As a partner of the women’s team and main sponsor of #B04eSports, DXC will be supporting two promising sections of the club during this period. DXC will also gain significant visibility as the sleeve partner of the women’s team in the DFB Pokal.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.
Show more
Following last weekend’s big game against Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Women face another exciting challenge as they visit Hoffenheim to kick off Matchday 3 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Friday (kick-off: 18:30 CEST).
Show more
Under the slogan ‘Holidays without War’, 60 children from war-torn Ukraine took part in the summer camp organised by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz in Leverkusen and the surrounding area in August. The children aged between 10 and 14 – many of whom have lost their parents in the war – come from the Ukrainian twin towns of Leverkusen, Cologne and Monheim am Rhein: Nikopol, Dnipro and Volodymyr. Bayer 04, Bayer AG and TSV Bayer 04 supported the camp to mark its 10th anniversary, enabling even more children and young people than in previous years to spend a few carefree days’ holiday away from the war in the Rhineland.
Show more
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.
Show more
