Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
"We've hardly had time in the first part of the day to assess the fitness of the players. But that's normal in this phase. We will particularly use the time this afternoon to recover well. We will train again once on Saturday. We have an important game against a direct rival ahead of us," said Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard sounding a warning about the hosts: "We will face a very good opponent. It won't be easy. They have a lot of power and are full of running." The 41-year-old coach then also made it clear: "We have the clear target of playing with maximum intensity to match our opponents on the pitch." That requires enough time to recover.
Alonso did not want to reveal his thinking on the line-up for Sunday: "We have a big squad. All the players are important and we will need them all in the coming weeks. We will only be able to make a final decision on Sunday. But I'm sure the best team possible will be on the pitch."
Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba and Jeremie Frimpong are on the verge of a one-match ban. However, Alonso does not want to "rest" the duo: "The next game is always the most important and we will take it seriously." The fitness of midfielder Exequiel Palacios is also a concern: "He felt something at the back of his thigh yesterday. We’ll have to wait and see what happens over the course of the day."
Alonso also praised the performance of substitute striker Sardar Azmoun: "He had a big influence on our game yesterday but also against Freiburg and Schalke. Adam Hlozek is a good option as well. Nadiem Amiri is also fit again. We have enough options in attack. It's my job to make these hard decisions."
Alonso was also thrilled by the reception for the team bus yesterday by thousands of Leverkusen fans on Bismarckstraße: "It was the first time for me as a coach experiencing something like that. The connection between team and fans is incredibly important. It was great to see it." The Werkself set off for Wolfsburg on Sunday morning where they will again have support: 600 fans are expected to travel from Leverkusen.
Calling all Bayer 04 fans: The Werkself will play Pisa SC, newly promoted to Serie A, at the BayArena as part of the season opener. The clash with the club from Tuscany is on Tuesday, 5 August with the kick-off at 18:00 CET. Entrance to the stadium with a wide range of entertainment provided is possible from 15:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales for the season opener.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the 17-year-old forward Dustin Buck. The Germany youth international joins from the youth set-up at FC Augsburg. The technically gifted and fast attacker will strengthen the Werkself U19 squad.
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A great night for 'Calle': Bayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser helped Germany to an opening win in the Women's Euro in Switzerland with an impressive performance. After coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Poland in Group C, the winger provided an assist and helped set up the second goal. The 21-year-old earned great praise from her coach and teammates in her first tournament match.
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A new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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The Werkself will welcome Serie A newcomers Pisa SC to the BayArena for a friendly on Tuesday, 5 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST / stadium opens: 15:00) as part of the season opener celebrations. Bayer 04 will offer fans a lively and varied supporting programme on the stadium concourse. Ahead of kick-off, both the men's and women's senior squads will be introduced on the pitch.
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