Bayer 04 will be without the services of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky longer than expected in the pre-season. In the operation to remove a wisdom tooth on Friday, the Finn also had to have a cyst removed from his jaw. The unscheduled operation was a success although it does involve a significantly longer recovery period due to the work on the jaw. Hradecky is expected to return to training in three to five weeks.
"We have a very strong set of goalkeepers and we will be able to make up for the loss and we have great confidence in Ramazan Özcan and Thorsten Kirschbaum," said head coach Heiko Herrlich, who only received the bad news at the BayArena following the afternoon training session. "I'm most sorry for Lukas who joined us full of ambition and now has to watch from the sidelines," added Herrlich. "But he is in the best hands with our medical section and the coaches and the players will do all they can to support Lukas. He will be given time to recover completely."
Bayer 04 welcome Union Berlin to a sold-out BayArena for Matchday 29 in the Bundesliga this Saturday (3.30pm CEST), with this game all about families. Here’s all you need to know in our matchday news.
Show moreTwo of the most in-form teams in the Bundesliga face each other in front of a full house at the BayArena on Saturday, 12 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Ahead of the Werkself game against Union Berlin, head coach Xabi Alonso talked about a reinvigorated FCU, two returnees to the squad and the state of play in the table.
Show moreUnion Berlin are currently on a run after a previously turbulent season with lots and highs and lows. The Irons now look to have escaped worries of relegation with ten points won in the last four games. Nevertheless, the team coached by Steffen Baumgart, recently very strong away from home, will go into the next game in Leverkusen with the usual high intensity on Saturday, 12 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreHere we go again: Bayer 04 are again organising a traditional family matchday, presented by main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, for the Werkself Bundesliga home game against Union Berlin (Saturday, 12 April, 15:30 CEST). Werkself fans can look forward to family-friendly offers and a wide-ranging programme of events in and around the BayArena with plenty of games plus activities to join in with. There will also be an exclusive kit sale at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt. Read on for information on the family matchday.
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