Bayer 04 head off for sunnier climes on the first Tuesday in the New Year for the third successive winter training camp in Orlando from 3 to 12 January 2017. In addition to intensive preparation for the forthcoming challenges in the Bundesliga and Champions League there are two matches in the Florida Cup. The opponents for the Werkself are the two top South American clubs Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina and Clube Atlético Mineiró from Brazil.
Bayer 04 enjoyed perfect conditions in Orlando in 2015 and 2016 and this time the Hotel Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate provides the base for the Werkself. At the start of this year, the Werkself played Santa Fe (Colombia) and SC Internacional (Brazil) in the Florida Cup. A 1-0 win against Santa Fe was followed by a 3-3 draw against SC Internacional.
The third year of this competition in 2017 will include the VfL Wolfsburg Academy team, SC Corinthians, Flamengo (both from Brazil), Barcelona SC (Ecuador) and Tampa Bay Rowdies from the Major League Soccer in addition to Bayer 04, Estudiantes de La Plata and club Atletico Mineiro.
The first opponent for the Werkself in the New Year will be Estudiantes de la Plata on 8 January at 14.00 (local time) at the A1Lang Stadium in Tampa. The Argentinian club won the Copa Libertadores de América, the premium club competition in South America, in 2009 and are currently fourth in the Primera Division in Argentina.
Clube Atlético Mineiró are the second opponent for Bayer 04 on 11 January at 19.00 (local time) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium in Orlando. Atletico Mineiro won the Copa Libertadores, in 2013, and in 2014 the club lifted the Recopa South America and won the domestic cup competition in Brazil. This season they are in fourth place in Brazil’s Serie A. One of the stars of the team is Robinho, former Brazil international and striker with Real Madrid.
Two home games for starters
Bayer 04 restart the Bundesliga with two home games: The first half of the season finishes with the match against third-placed Hertha Berlin on Sunday 22 January at 15.30 CET. The first matchday in the second half of the season sees Borussia Mönchengladbach visit the BayArena on Saturday 28 January (18.30 CET).
After back-to-back away defeats, Bayer 04 Women now face their penultimate home fixture of 2026 as they welcome Hamburg to the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Saturday (14:00 CET) seeking three important points in the Google Pixel Bundesliga.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and what matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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After three consecutive wins in the Europa League, the Werkself suffered their first European defeat of the season against Marseille. In a first half with few chances, the Black and Reds gradually gained more and more control of the game, but were unable to convert that advantage into goals. Miguel Gutiérrez came closest to putting Leverkusen ahead with a shot that hit the crossbar. In the second half, the French side produced clinical finishing, with Amine Gouiri scoring from a counter-attack to make it 1-0 (77’). Right up to the final whistle, the Werkself threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but were unable to find a way back into the game.
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Bayer 04 are riding a wave of success on the European stage: After three wins from their first three games and as the only team yet to concede a goal, the Werkself sit second in the table in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. With another three points in their first-ever competitive match against Olympique Marseille on Thursday night, 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Bayer 04 could leap to the top of the table. Meanwhile, the French side are riding the wave of a winning streak in Ligue 1, but are yet to pick up any points in the Europa League. For one Werkself player, Thursday night will mark a reunion with his former team-mates. Today’s matchday news.
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The Bundesliga has finalised the fixtures for matchdays 12 to 18 of the 2026/27 season. Here is an overview of the dates.
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