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).
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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