Given the pleasant temperatures in Orlando there was a certain need to acclimatise to the wintry conditions in Leverkusen. Instead of shorts and T-shirts on the training ground at the BayArena it was time for hats and gloves. Hakan Calhanoglu and Kevin Kampl were ruled out the slight infection. On the plus side, skipper Lars Bender returned to full training for the first time since his latest injury.
The focus in training was on the forthcoming Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin on Sunday 22 January (15.30 CET kick-off), which is the last match of the first half of the season. Ahead of the first competitive match in 2017 there is a friendly on Tuesday against VfL Bochum. The Werkself entertain the side lying eleventh in the second division at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 14.00 CET. Entrance is free.
Friendly against Bochum live broadcast
Anybody unable to make it to the stadium can follow the match live on www.bayer04.de and www.facebook.com/bayer04fussball.
Bochum also played Bayer 04 in a friendly at the Haberland Stadium in January 2016 with the second division outfit winning that match 2-1. VfL have played three friendlies this year losing 1-0 against FC Köln, beating Greuther Fürth 3-0 and a 2-1 reverse last Saturday away to Darmstadt 98.
Match practice for Bellarabi – Volland set for comeback
"The match against VfL Bochum is primarily for players who have recently been sidelined with injury," said Roger Schmidt. That includes important match practice for Karim Bellarabi. The 26-year-old made his comeback in the 1-0 victory against Atlético Mineiro in the Florida Cup and his 45 minutes were "played like he'd never been away" (Schmidt). Bellarabi himself was also very happy with his first appearance since a serious tendon injury: "It's good to be back. I didn't have any problems."
Hopefully Kevin Volland will be able to say the same after the game against VfL Bochum on Tuesday. The striker is due to make his first appearance after a six-week injury layoff in this friendly." And then we'll see if there's a reaction. It's important to listen to what your body is telling you," said the Germany international.
Roger Schmidt is giving his players another day off from training on Wednesday. From Thursday the focus is on the final preparations for the Bundesliga home game against Hertha Berlin.
After Jens Nowotny was officially named a Bayer 04 honorary captain last weekend, the long-standing Werkself player is part of the Leverkusen delegation on the trophy tour to New York City next week from 11 to 14 September. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 50-year-old talked about his expectations ahead of the trip to the metropolis on the East Coast of the USA.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for matchdays 6 to 12 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Full details of the Bayer 04 fixtures.
Show moreMarkus Rehm, a long jumper at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, won the gold medal for the fourth time in succession at the Paralympics on Wednesday.
Show moreThe fixture details for the second round of the DFB Pokal 2024/25 have been confirmed. The home tie for Bayer 04 against second division SV 07 Elversberg is on Tuesday, 29 October with the kick off at 18.00 CET (live on Sky). That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
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