Bayer Leverkusen

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen will face Blackburn on the Uefa Cup last 16.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen beat Dortmund away, 2-1 the final score

[Oliver_Kahn]

Croatian youngster Josip Tadic has agreed to leave Bayer Leverkusen during the winter transfer window, in order to return to his native country in an attempt to rejuvenate his stalled career.

The striker has committed himself to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb for the next four-and-a-half years.

Leverkusen have, though, insisted on a special clause that gives the Bundesliga side the chance to recall the 19-year-old back to the BayArena.

Tadic joined Leverkusen in 2005 from NK Osijek, but failed to win a place in Michael Skibbe’ team and he has been forced to play for the club's reserve side instead.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...its+Leverkusen

[Oliver_Kahn]

FCN look back upon a successful year. Robert Vittek has even more reason to celebrate after he was voted "Footballer of the year" in Slovakia.


The 24 year old striker won the poll in front of Martin Skrtel (Zenit Petrohrad) and Marek Sapara (MFK Ruzomberok/Rosenborg Trondheim),

Vittek is already the second Nuremberg player to win the award after team-mate Marek Mintal had won "Footballer of the year" in 2005 and 2006.

Mintal in fourth place

This year Mintal ended up in fourth place despite being hampered by injuries.

"I'm very proud of this accolade", said Vittek, who was well worth the honour after scoring 18 Bundesliga goals in 2006.

[Oliver_Kahn]

In their only friendly during a training camp in Rome, Bayer 04 Leverkusen have won 5-1 against Italian fourth-flight club Cisco Rome.


Andrej Voronin (22), Sergej Barbarez (31), Simon Rolfes (40), Michal Papadopulos (48) and Stefan Kießling (82) all scored for Bayer.

Barnetta injury

Head coach Michael Skibbe had to make do without Carsten Ramelow (ankle problems), Bernd Schneider (back problems) and Roque Junior (just back in training).

Coda (22) scored Cisco's only goal. Bayer midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta had to leave the pitch injured in the first half.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe is set to sign a new three-year contract extension with the West German club.

Skibbe came in for heavy criticism from home fans after his side made a poor start to the season, but ten points from their four final games before the Christmas break, as well as a 2-1 victory over Besiktas that guaranteed progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup have seen a change of mood at the club.

"I am very happy to be able to continue my work here in Leverkusen," he said. "I am pleased that people have a lot of faith in my ability. Even in bad times we have always worked together as a team."

Sporting director Rudi Voeller and general manager Michael Reschke are also to be rewarded with two-year contract extensions.

Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Roque Junior has returned to fitness, and has been cleared to take part in Leverkusen's friendly against Cisco Roma on Thursday.

"It's like having a new signing," Skibbe told the club's official website. "His confidence on the ball, creativity and strength in the tackle are remarkably good."

The former Leeds United man managed only two appearances for the club last year due to an achilles injury.

Skibbe to remain at BayArena - Football - Eurosport

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen are set to beat a cluster of top European clubs to land the signature of 17-year-old Brno defender Ondrej Mazuch. According to the cash-strapped Czech club's co-owner, Roman Pros, the two clubs have agreed on everything apart from the payment breakdown.

Leverkusen, currently sixth in the German Bundesliga, have a fortnight to submit a fresh offer for the under-17 and under-19 Czech international.

Brno will still consider new offers from other clubs in the process.

Mazuch was watched by Arsenal scouts in the autumn amid speculation that Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger was keen to add the talented centre-back to his array of promising youth talent.

Inter Milan and Juventus have also been linked with the player.

Leverkusen keen on Mazuch - Football - Eurosport

[Trim]

Bayer Leverkusen were 2-0 down against Aachen, but they managed to score 3 goals and ge the win in such a dramatical match.

[Oliver_Kahn]

I wasn't expecting that outcome

[Trim]

Leverkusen got defeated home 2-0 tonight by Werder Bremen.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen have pipped Arsenal to the signing of 17-year-old Czech defender Ondrej Mazuch from FC Brno. The Bundesliga side have reportedly put €1.5million (£1million) on the table to nullify the interest of Arsene Wenger’s youth-embracing Premiership club.

"We could not refuse such an offer," Brno club director Radek Belak told CTK.

"Apart from the transfer fee, we will also have a percentage of the fee when Ondrej moves to another club."

Mazuch will stay in his homeland at Brno for another 18 months before joining his Bayer team-mates in June 2008.

The move is still subject to a medical, but Mazuch is pleased that all the negotiations surrounding his future are now over.

"I am glad that the negotiations finished and I can stay in Brno for one more season," he said.

"With this, the step will not be so big. Anyway, I appreciate the option to be a Bayer player."

Brno club director Radek Belak announced on Tuesday that Arsenal had sent a fax confirming their interest in the player.

But it seems that the Gunners were not able to match the valuation for the promising defender.

Bayer beat Arsenal to snap up starlet - Football - Eurosport

[Trim]

Cool, glad to see talents joining Bundesliga.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Indeed. And seeing that Arsenal wanted him, he must be good.

You know Wenger has an eye for talents

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen fought hard, but lost 3-2 to Wolfsburg, away from home

[Trim]

How can Leverkusen beat Dortmund and loose from Wolfsburg? Damn, Bundesliga is getting crazy, day by day.