The two oldest Bayer 04 youth teams began the new NRW League Cup with convincing wins. The U19s under head coach Sven Hübscher entertained Alemannia Aachen in the opening fixture in Group 3 – and they secured a convincing 5-0 victory. The goalscorers included three youth players who took part in the first team training camp in Salzburger Land a few weeks ago.
The first goal of the new season was netted by Joshua Eze just before half-time at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre (36'). At the start of the second 45, Ayman Aourir made it 2-0 (46') before Zidan Sertdemir took centre stage. The 16-year-old summer signing from top-flight Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, who has completed every training session with the first team, netted a hat-trick in eleven minutes (53', 60', 64').
The U19s are back in action in the NRW League Cup on Friday, 13 August, with a home game against Preußen Münster. The kick-off at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is at 18.30 CEST.
Like the older youth age group, the Leverkusen U17s are top of Group 2 after matchday one. Thanks to a 4-0 home win against Alemannia Aachen, the team coached by Jan Hoepner and Thomas Zdebel have taken the first step towards the semi-finals. The goals for the Werkself youth side were scored by Akim Kister (28’), Raoul Petak (37’), Enes Yilmaz (56’) and Julius Bugenhagen (75’).
Preußen Münster are also the next opponents for the U17s. The second group match is away from home on Thursday, 12 August at 13.00 CEST.
Following the focused performance in the DFB Cup tie at Lokomotive Leipzig (3-0), the Werkself began the new week with a day off training. The first session is set for Tuesday with the focus moving exclusively to the Bundesliga opener away to FC Union Berlin. Bayer 04 will travel to the capital on Friday in search of the first three points of the new league campaign the day after with a 15.30 CEST kick-off at the Alte Försterei Stadium.
As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Monday, the second round of the DFB Cup will be drawn on Sunday, 29 August. The draw will begin at 18.30 CEST in the WDR studio in Cologne where the ARD Sportschau is broadcast live. The second round matches will be played on 26 and 27 October.
Bayer 04 went through in the cup competition with a comfortable 3-0 victory away to North East Regional League Lokomotive Leipzig. The match report can be read HERE.
The Werkself player Jeremie Frimpong describes his FIFA Ultimate Team as "quick" and "powerful". Bayer 04 TV asked the 20-year-old right-back to introduce his dream team on FIFA. The players he chose can be seen on the club’s YouTube channel. HERE is the link to the video.
The week starts again with Black and Red congratulations: Panagiotis ‘Panos’ Retsos celebrated his 23rd birthday on Monday. The defender joined Leverkusen in 2017 from Olympiakos as a champion of Greece. After going out on loan to Saint-Étienne last year, the South African-born Retsos is again showing his potential under the Bayer Cross. After time on the pitch in the pre-season friendlies, the versatile defender went the full distance in the DFB Cup tie against Lokomotive Leipzig. Many happy returns on your birthday, Panos.
Another player, who wore the Black and Red until recently, became a year old on Monday and is now 24: Leon Bailey. The Jamaican joined Bayer 04 in January 2017. A few days ago, the winger moved on to the Premier League after four and a half years in the Bundesliga – he is now at Aston Villa. Many happy returns and much success, Leon.
The final whistle of the current 2025/26 season marks the end of a unique partnership for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After more than three decades of collaboration and highly eventful times, the Bundesliga football club and the private brewery Bitburger are going their separate ways.
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Around four months after their bitter exit in the DFB Pokal Round of 16, the Bayer 04 Women are once again away to Hamburger SV. On Monday night (18:00 CEST), the Werkself will not only be looking to pick up important points in the final phase of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga at the Volksparkstadion, but also to make amends for their defeat on penalties.
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A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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