Cornelia Kramer made her first start for Denmark in the UEFA Women's Nations League. In her third international, the Leverkusen top goalscorer from last season was on the pitch in the 1-0 win against Wales until added time. Four days later, the 22-year-old came on at the start of the second half but was unable to help her team avoid a 6-1 defeat against Sweden. Denmark finished Group A4 in third place and are now in the relegation play-offs at the end of October.
Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir also faces the play-offs to stay in League A with Iceland. The 23-year-old, who is set to leave Bayer 04 after two years on loan, was in the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw in Norway and the 2-0 defeat in France. Iceland finished third in Group A2 on four points after six games. The play-off matches to stay in League A will be played between 22 and 28 October, the draw for the matches between the second placed teams in League B has yet to be made.
Her Werkself teammate Lilla Turanyi had a less happy time with Hungary during the international break. Hungary's Women's Player of the Year in 2022 did play the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat in Serbia and the 0-0 draw against Belarus. As one of the two worst third-placed teams in League B, Hungary go straight down to League C after picking up four points in six games.
The Germany U23 team coached by Kathrin Peter had two friendlies against the USA. Winger Julia Mickenhagen was in the starting line-up in the 2-1 defeat in the first match but the Germany U23s won 2-1 in the second game against the USA Women. The 20-year-old came on in the closing stages of the match and helped to secure the victory.
The Leverkusen duo of Estrella Merino Gonzalez and Delice Boboy celebrated two wins with the Germany U19s in two friendlies. First, the U19s – with right-back Merino Gonzalez and striker Boboy in the starting line-up – beat England 3-2. Four days later, the 18-year-old Boboy, who is set to join RB Leipzig next season, scored a brace in a 4-0 victory over France. Both Werkself players started in this match as well.
Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
Show more
Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
Show more
The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
Show more
