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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’s Ibrahim Maza is among the three nominees for the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season award. Fans have until 23:59 CEST on Thursday, 7 May to cast their votes in the official Bundesliga app.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bayer 04 Women have kept their chance of qualifying for the Champions League alive in the Bundesliga run-in. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 4-0 at SGS Essen on Sunday afternoon, improving their record from last season to 14 wins this term. With 43 points, the Werkself equalled another record from the 2024/25 season and at the same time reduced the gap to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to two points, at least for tonight. Loreen Bender (4’), Kristin Kögel (41’, 68’) and Cornelia Kramer (89’) scored for the Black and Reds, who dominated the game to record their fourth win on the bounce.
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With the 4-1 home win against RB Leipzig, the Werkself not only ended the run of five consecutive victories for RBL, but also moved up to fourth place, which would ensure qualification for the UEFA Champions League. While the media praised the impressive performance of Leverkusen's hat-trick hero Patrik Schick in particular, the team and coach were delighted with the "fantastic energy" from the stands and are looking to take the momentum into the remaining two games: "We have to perform like we did today in Stuttgart!" The Werkself review.
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