Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
"We have recovered physically and mentally," said Xabi Alonso on Friday afternoon, three days after the 5-0 win against FC Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League. "We want to keep the positive feeling from the last games going. We also feel good for tomorrow even though we can expect a tough challenge."
As usual for the match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, the Spaniard is expecting "a very physical game with lots of duels. We have to be ready for that. But we want to put our ideas into effect on the pitch and play our own game – and in the best case scenario keep a clean sheet as we did against Salzburg."
As announced by Alonso at the pre-match press conference, the recently injured defenders Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele are expected to return to the matchday squad. Martin Terrier is not available for the game against Union Berlin but "may possibly be back in Munich," said Alonso continuing the positive squad update.
The Werkself will have the support of 2,400 fans in Berlin with the away section sold out.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
Show more
Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
Show more
Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
Show more
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
Show more
Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
Show more
