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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.”
Decision made: Germany will submit a bid to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to host the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Munich. The representatives of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) voted for Munich over Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr at their extraordinary meeting in Baden-Baden on Saturday 26 September. Berlin had already withdrawn from the vote a few days earlier.
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Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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A challenging start to what will hopefully be a long journey: The Bayer 04 women’s team kick off their new DFB Pokal campaign on Sunday (14:00 CEST) against second-division leaders FC Viktoria Berlin. Coach Roberto Pätzold expects stiff resistance in the capital – and is counting on his team’s strong away form in the Bundesliga so far this term.
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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