
Both the match director and the DFB fixtures committee had previously rejected the application from Leverkusen at the same time as the Association approved an identical application from Bayern Munich for the postponement of the DFB Cup second round tie at Holstein Kiel.
This means the cup tie between Bayer 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt will now be played in Leverkusen on 12 January 2021 at 20.45 CET instead of on 23 December 2020. Rudi Völler, sporting managing director: "With this decision, the Federal Tribunal has accepted our idea of the principle of fair play and equal treatment for both clubs heavily involved in European competitions. As the cup opposition involved, Eintracht Frankfurt always gave us their support through Axel Hellmann and Fredi Bobic. Eintracht have shown a wonderful approach, which we are all profoundly grateful for."
Fernando Carro, CEO: "Looking at the last Bundesliga fixture of the year, where we play Munich in Leverkusen, there is now an equality of opportunity as we no longer have to take account of the cup tie due to be played on 23 December. I know from conversations with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that he, as the representative of Bayern Munich, also believed the equal treatment of both clubs was important."


Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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