Six Leverkusen players form the biggest group in the German squad for the two final matches in the U 23 games played in morphia in Spain. In addition to captain Kristin Kögel, Julia Mickenhagen, Selina Ostermeier, Katharina Piljic and Sofie Zdebel are joined for the first time by Loreen Bender. The offensive player missed out on the last outing of the team under coach Kathrin Peter due to injury. She is part of the Werkself sextet for Friday's semi-final against the Netherlands and according to the outcome of that match for the game for third place or the final on Monday against the winners of the match between Italy and Norway. The 19-year-old has made 30 international appearances for teams from the U15s through to the U20s ahead of her debut for the U23s.
Ruby Grant is in action with the same age group at the end of the international break. The midfielder, who joined Leverkusen in the winter break, is set to play for the England U23s against Spain on Thursday and then against Belgium or Sweden on Sunday.
For two other Bayer 04 Women there is a mini tournament in Poland to qualify for the U19 Euros. Delice Boboy and Estrella Merino Gonzalez with the Germany team play Israel on Wednesday and then Finland on Saturday before a final game against the hosts Poland. The first Euro qualifying round saw the U19s comfortably finish top of the group now the team led by coach Michael Urbansky must win their seventh mini tournament to ensure a place in the finals from 15 to 27 June. If the already qualified Poland finished top then the best second placed side of all the mini tournaments take their place.
Matchdays three and four in the UEFA Women's Nation's League are coming up. Striker Cornelia Kramer with Denmark is away to Wales on Friday and at home to Italy on Tuesday. Midfielder Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir is with Iceland on the same days in front of the home crowd twice: first against Norway then against Switzerland.
International call-ups:
Cornelia Kramer (Denmark)
Friday, 04.04.: Wales vs Denmark (UEFA Women’s Nations League)
Tuesday, 08.04.: Denmark vs Italy (UEFA Women’s Nations League)
Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir (Island)
Friday, 04.04.: Iceland vs Norway (UEFA Women’s Nations League)
Tuesday, 08.04.: Iceland vs Switzerland (UEFA Women’s Nations League)
Loreen Bender, Kristin Kögel, Julia Mickenhagen, Selina Ostermeier, Katharina Piljic, Sofie Zdebel (Germany U23)
Friday, 04.04.: Germany vs Netherlands (International round, semi-finals)
Monday, 07.04.: Germany vs Italy/Norway (International round, third place play-off/final)
Ruby Grant (England U23)
Thursday, 03.04.: England vs Spain (International round)
Sunday, 06.04.: England vs Belgium/Sweden (International round)
Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez (Germany U19)
Wednesday, 02.04.: Germany vs Israel (Euro qualifier)
Saturday, 05.04.: Germany vs Finland (Euro qualifier)
Tuesday, 08.04.: Poland vs Germany (Euro qualifier)
Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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