In a relaxed session, the players competed on rebound nets or in one-on-ones with mini goals – Peter Bosz walked round the pitch with a board noting the scores. The warm-up routine saw Joel Pohjanpalo return to training. The Finn, who had been in rehab following an injury to his right ankle, completed parts of the full training session for the first time since the end of July..
"I’m taking it slowly as last time it was probably all too quick. I feel good but it's always a question of how the foot reacts. But we carry on, putting more and more stress on the foot and it's getting better and better. That's the way forward," said the 24-year-old after the session. "Of course, setbacks are painful but I feel the confidence of the coach and the players. Being negative in the dressing room doesn't help anybody. So everybody's happy when I make progress." In spite of not being able to work with the ball, Pohjanpalo has worked extremely hard on his fitness over the past few weeks: "I've achieved values like never before. But I've still got a lot to make up in practice."
There is huge anticipation ahead of the Champions League. Equally so for the first home game. Especially as Bayer 04 fans will then have to be patient before the next home appearance in Europe's premier club competition. After the game against Lokomotiv Moscow on 18 September (kick-off: 21.00 CET), the Peter Bosz team have two away fixtures in Group D. The Champions League anthem will only ring out at the BayArena again at the beginning of November on matchday four. Reason enough to secure tickets for the first group match for the Werkself at home to Lokomotiv Moscow. Individual tickets for the Werkself home game against Lokomotiv Moscow went on sale to Club members on Tuesday 3 September. Open sale starts on Thursday 5 September at 10.00 CET.
686 apprentices have started their working life at Bayer AG this year. In yesterday's traditional welcome event at the Leverkusen casino, Rudi Völler welcomed the new trainees to the Bayer family. As in recent years, the sporting managing director also invited this year’s new trainees, working in the Bayer facilities on the Lower Rhine, to watch a Werkself match in the Bundesliga. This season it is the match against Werder Bremen (25-27 October). The trainees in Berlin received an invitation to the Werkself away game in May of next year against Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium in the capital.
Once again golf was played for a good cause on Monday 2 September. Bayer 04 staged the 11th charity golf tournament in support of the Sportförderung gGmbH at the Leverkusen Golf Course. In addition to partners, sponsors and friends of Bayer 04, Werkself players also showed their skills with the golf club at this annual event – Lars Bender and Niklas Lomb had an impressive round. Also on the course were Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro and the former Bayer 04 players Stefan Kießling, Ulf Kirsten and Manuel Friedrich. Food and music for the guests was provided by the SalzburgerLand tourism organisation throughout the day. At the end of the day, the tournament raised €13,500 for good causes.
The organic sandwich box campaign has for many years promoted healthy children's food in numerous cities and regions in Germany. Bayer 04 have consistently supported the initiative of Leverkusen City Council – once again this year as well. Werkself pro Sven Bender helped with packing the reusable breakfast boxes with healthy snacks for breakfast break-time at the 'Nature estate Ophoven'. The organic sandwich boxes will be handed out to first years in the region over the next few days.
The former Bundesliga pro Patrick Owomoyela met up with Kevin Volland at the BayArena for the DFL Interview of the Month. As usual with Owo, Volland and the former pro competed in little games and spoke about life on and off the pitch. A small taster: In the episode to be shown on bundesliga.com next month, the pair can be seen in full ice hockey kit.
FC Salzburg are having an indifferent season in the Austrian league at the moment. The club, who have won the title ten times in the last eleven years, are currently just sixth in the table. Nevertheless, the Salzburg team feel they may have turned a corner after the convincing win away to Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League. Now they are looking to spring a surprise at the BayArena on Tuesday, 26 November (kick-off: 21.00 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, Bayer 04 again joins in with the Orange Your City campaign. On Monday, 25 November, the BayArena will be lit up in orange between 17.00 and 22.00 CET. It is traditional on this day to have other significant buildings in Leverkusen lit up in orange.
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Daily changing special offers from the world of Bayer 04: The annual Black and Red week begins on Thursday, 28 November. You can look forward to unique offers and discount on fan merchandise up to and including Saturday, 30 November.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without striker Martin Terrier for the next few games. The Frenchman suffered a broken arm in the Bundesliga match against FC Heidenheim on Saturday (5-2).
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The popularity of the German double winners remains unbroken and has now – in respect of the membership numbers – achieved its next high point: Bayer 04 has broken the 66,666 membership mark and says thank you 66,666 times for all the support, passion and loyalty for the Black and Reds.
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