In addition to the internal and orthopaedic tests, that were carried out in part on Monday, 17 players (split into groups of three) and excluding the international players, completed a range of tests on strength, coordination, movement, balance, acceleration and stamina. "With the help of the data, we produce an individual profile for each player to see exactly where the particular strengths, weaknesses or performance limiting factors are," explained Malte Krüger, the head sports scientist at Bayer 04. The data acquired primarily serves to optimise the training programme over the course of the pre-season. "That means the players can work in a targeted and individual way with our fitness coaches Schahriar Bigdeli, Terry Peters and Daniel Jouvin to endeavour to make up deficits or to reduce the risk of injury – without the daily training on the pitch having to suffer," added Krüger.
Of course, the aim is to be as well prepared as possible for the three competitions facing the Werkself of the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the DFB Cup. "We want to keep all players fit and healthy through the season and make sure they are fully fit when the busy weeks start," said Krüger.
Kai Havertz, Lukas Hradecky, Aleksandar Dragovic, Tin Jedvaj and Paulinho, who were given extra leave due to their international appearances at the beginning of June, will complete the performance tests on Sunday.
Two Saturdays, one Friday and one Sunday: The dates for the Bayer 04 Women's team games on matchdays 16 to 19 have been finalised. Three of the four matches scheduled by the German Football Association (DFB) on Tuesday will be played at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
Show more
Despite a courageous display, the Bayer 04 Women missed out on a surprise at the start of the second half of the Bundesliga season. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team lost 3-0 to league leaders Bayern Munich on Monday night. An early goal from the clinical visitors, a disputed penalty and another spot-kick prevented Leverkusen, who are seventh in the table on 22 points from 14 games, from picking up a point in front of 3,011 spectators at the sold-out Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
Show more
The Werkself rang in the Black and Red festive season with an emotional visit to Klinikum Leverkusen. Kristin Kögel, Melissa Friedrich and Louisa Remien from the Bayer 04 Women's team and Jonas Hofmann, Janis Blaswich and Niklas Lomb from the first team visited the young patients on the children's ward and, for the first time, on the ‘Zeitinsel’ children's palliative care unit. They brought a host of lovingly wrapped presents ensuring a big surprise for young and old alike.
Show more
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
