
"We are very happy to again win the award after 2019/20 and 2020/21," said Linda Schöttler, general manager of the Bayer 04 Women's team. "That again shows the outstanding work of our grounds staff. Particularly as the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is used by several teams." The Werkself regularly complete their final pre-match training sessions here. And the U19 and U17 teams also play their home games at the UHS.
The awards are based on a pitch management tool of the DFB where the quality of the pitch is rated according to a ten-point system from 1-2 (very bad) through to 9-10 (excellent) after every game by the team managers of the home and away clubs as well as the referee involved. At the end of the season, the individual assessments produce an overall table.
The pitch at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium has a hybrid surface with a especially hard wearing natural grass playing surface strengthened with artificial fibres.
"The Pitch of the Year is an award for all our ground staff team," said Gail Schmitz, head groundsman at Bayer 04 who was responsible for an impressive team with 14 members of staff. "Everybody here makes their contribution to offer our Women's team players, our first team and the U19 and U17 youth sides a high quality playing surface. Both in the summer and the winter. We are very happy with the third title in succession. And the fact we were again able to come out on top against strong competition makes us a little bit proud."

Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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