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“There are still seven games left to go in the league. We want to take the next step towards the title in Berlin,” Alonso stressed on Friday morning. “We have our sights set on big goals in all three competitions but are only taking things one game at a time. Now we have to focus solely on Union Berlin.”
An opponent who have the seventh-best record in the Bundesliga since the mid-point of the season. Alonso said of Union’s strengths: “Obviously the coach and some players are new, but they follow the same ideas of playing. They’re a physically strong and very aggressive team who also play looking to combine. We have to be ready for perhaps not the prettiest game. It’s important to get a good result.”
The return of Victor Boniface after he got half an hour in Wednesday’s 4-0 semi-final win over Fortuna Düsseldorf provides Alonso with further options at centre-forward. “His outing against Düsseldorf was good for him, but he won’t be able to start yet,” the Spaniard confirmed. “We want to help him bit by bit to get that good feeling on the pitch again.” When pressed further, Alonso said of Patrik Schick, Borja Iglesias and Adam Hlozek: “They all have different strengths, do a good job and are hugely important for us.”
The 42-year-old also stressed that no player in his squad is better placed than any other, including in central midfield. “Rob [Andrich] is in good form and knows Union Berlin’s stadium very well. Pala [Exequiel Palacios] is fit again. We have lots of options in every position.”
After progressing to the cup final in a sold-out and atmospheric BayArena against Fortuna, the Werkself can again expect plenty of support at a capacity Stadion an der Alten Försterei, with 2,500 fans making the trip from Leverkusen. Alonso spoke of the supporters having a good feel for knowing what kind of support is needed right now: “Our fans are intelligent and patient. Obviously, we all want to celebrate something big together at the end, but the moment hasn’t come yet. It’s still too early. First, we need to do our job in Berlin.”
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).
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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.
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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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