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"We've come back well from the break. I've felt a good energy in training this week. The lads are feeling great and we're ready for the next phase and, of course, the game tomorrow. Taking three points on Saturday would be ideal," said Kasper Hjulmand at the start of the press conference.
Hjulmand rates VfB Stuttgart, who have always had close and hard-fought duels with Bayer 04 in the recent past, as a "top team". "It will be a special game. Both teams play on the front foot with a lot of pressing and lots of ideas. VfB are a great team with a great coach. We're really looking forward to it and I love these games against top teams. They offer the opportunity to gain some breathing space in the table if we win and, above all, they're an excellent opportunity to learn something. We can see where we are and where we need to improve."
Speaking of improvement: When asked whether the team could still improve, Hjulmand said: "We can always improve. I still see great potential. It's not easy to set new tactical directions with such a tight schedule, but this team can definitely take further steps forward. Some players will be returning, which will increase the competition even more and that’s good for the team."
Some of the squad about to return include players involved with the AFCON tournament. While Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane and Eliesse Ben Seghir are involved in the quarter-finals, Edmond Tapsoba was knocked out in the Round of 16 and he is set to return to the Werkself soon. However, he will not be involved in the Stuttgart game. "It's a difficult issue. The players have not had any rest, which is also mentally exhausting. It's important to pay attention to how they feel physically and mentally after the tournament. Eddy will now have a bit of a break and time to be with his family. He'll be back next week."
Exequiel Palacios is also unavailable. However, Loïc Badé, Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo are ready for action.
A few tickets for the match are still available from returns on the Bayer 04 ticket exchange. Last-minute bookings can be made HERE to secure them. Werkself Radio and the live text update service on bayer04.de and the Bayer04 app are also available in 2026.
Bayer 04 can go through to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the ninth time tonight, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET) and be in the top 16 clubs in Europe. A good omen: Leverkusen have progressed to the next round after winning the first leg in 20 of their 22 knockout rounds in European competitions to date. For their part, Greek record champions Olympiacos rested several players for last weekend’s league fixture ahead of the play-off second leg at the BayArena and will now do everything in their power to turn the tide with their usual aggressive and high pressing. The discussions on Werkself radio are likely to be just as intense as the battle on the pitch, with commentator Florian Bechholz welcoming honorary captain Stefan Kießling and goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Today’s matchday news.
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With the advantage of the 2-0 first-leg win in the play-offs, the Werkself are looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the home game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich spoke about the position ahead of the match, the visitors' strength at set-pieces and a personnel issue for the home side.
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With a win in the Greek Super League last weekend, Olympiacos achieved success on the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg at Bayer 04 on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Coach José Luis Mendilibar rested many of his regular starters.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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