
It is now established during the current campaign: Whenever there is an international break, the Werkself take the opportunity to play a friendly at the Haberland Stadium – and viewers of bayer04.de and Facebook can follow the match live at home on the PC or on smartphones. That will happen again in two weeks time: The Werkself entertain second division VfL Bochum in the shadows of the Bay Arena on Thursday 22 March. The game at the Haberland Stadium kicks off at 15.00 CET and entrance is free of charge.
The match takes place in the week after the derby at FC Köln (18 March) and ahead of the home game against FC Augsburg (31 March). The international players will be away with their respective national sides and the rest of the squad will take part in a practice match against a club from a lower league – which always provides head coach Heiko Herrlich the chance to give players time on the pitch who don't regularly play in competitive fixtures. The meeting with Bochum will be the second time the Black and Reds have faced the Blue and Whites this term: Bayer 04 played VfL in the first international break of the 2017/18 season on 31 August last year – with Bochum coming out on top in a 2-1 win with goals from Lukas Hinterseer and Johannes Wurtz. Marlon Frey scored the goal for the Werkself.
This will be the eighth friendly of the season for Bayer 04 at the Haberland Stadium following on from games against Bochum, Fortuna Köln, MSV Duisburg, SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Preußen Münster, SF Lotte and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. The duel with VfL also brings a reunion with Robin Dutt: The former Werkself coach (2011 to April 2012) recently took over the helm at Bochum and he has been brought in ensure that VfL win the battle to avoid relegation and stay in the second division.

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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