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"The Bundesliga is the most important competition for us. And now it's an important moment of the season," declared Alonso at the press conference on Friday. Asked about Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madridd the Spaniard said: "Madrid is Madrid, Leipzig is Leipzig. You can't compare two teams and two games but you have to look at them individually. Our full focus is now on Leipzig. We are expecting a tough game."
The first game against RBL at the BayArena at the start of the season ended in a 3-2 defeat after Bayer 04 went two goals up. "A lot happened in that game," said Alonso sounding a warning: "We know their qualities, both individually and as a team. They have a good coach and are a top team. We will be ready."
As in Madrid, Victor Boniface will be in the matchday squad again in Leipzig. "He's available," said Alonso. Also on board is Nordi Mukiele who went off at half-time in the game against Atletico. Alonso also talked about Amine Adli: "He's doing well and will probably return to training next week."
Asked about possible winter signings given the long-term absence of Jeanuel Belocian (torn cruciate) and Martin Terrier (torn Achilles) Alonso said: "We have to be smart and make the right decisions calmly."
Another subject for discussion at the press conference: the all-time Bundesliga table. Bayer 04 are currently tenth just two points behind FC Köln and they could go above the Cologne side with a win in Leipzig. Alonso: "It will be something great for our fans above all. They love this club, many of them since their childhood. And the all-time Bundesliga table also shows the great history of Bayer 04."
2,900 Werkself fans will be in Leipzig. The game is live on Sky and on Werkself Radio.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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