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"I've got a good feeling for the game. Big clashes like this are the best. It will be a great game in a great stadium against a top team," declared Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. The Werkself are top of the Bundesliga for the first time since December 2020. However, the Spaniard warned against an overconfident approach to the match: "Only three games have been played so far. That doesn't mean much at all."
Nevertheless, it promises to be a hard-fought battle. The Spaniard declared: "Bayern are a world-class team and favourites to win the league title every year. That means playing against them is always very difficult." Alonso believes his team is ready for the top of the table encounter at FC Bayern. "We’ve made a good start to the season and have obviously gained confidence. If we show the same mentality as before then it will be a good game."
Friday night’s match is not only special because of the situation in the Bundesliga table. For Alonso, the match represents a return to his former stomping ground. The Spaniard played for the Munich club from 2014 to 2017. He now returns to the Allianz Arena for the first time as a coach with the Werkself. A reunion with familiar faces the Spaniard is looking forward to: "I've got good memories of my time at Bayern. They were my last three years as a player. On top of that, I was able to prepare and learn a lot there under Pep Guardiola in my desire to become a coach. But now the clear focus is obviously on the game."
Patrik Schick and Timothy Fosu-Mensah will not travel to Munich. In addition, the Spanish head coach will have to manage without Arthur and Noah Mbamba.
Amine Adli, unavailable for the first three league matches due to suspension, is able to play again in Munich. Piero Hincapie will be in the Werkself matchday squad for the first time this season following time out injured.
The Werkself can look forward to the support of 5,000 Leverkusen fans at the Allianz Arena. The team will set off to the Bavarian state capital on Friday morning.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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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.
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