
Paulinho, thanks to the draw at Schalke 04, qualification for the Champions League is now in your own hands. How important is fourth place to you?
Getting the club into the Champions League was our main target from the start. And now it’s down to us to achieve that target on the pitch. The championship is in the home straight and we have to be on top of our game.
You certainly made your mark when you came on and you played a key role in the equaliser. How do you see your role at the moment?
I’m always ready to go when the coach needs me. Of course, I’d like to continue to get chances to play to maintain my rhythm. I’m in good shape and I think I can help the team with goals, assists as well as in defence.
It’s always been exciting against FC Köln in recent years. How do you think you should play?
It’s a derby. In a game like that, there are emotions that create energy and motivation is high. We definitely want to win. For our main target in the league but also for the fans.
FC Köln haven’t won since the restart. What methods do you want to use to break down Markus Gisdol’s team?
We have to use the situation and be brave. We’ve got so much strength up front and we should use it.
The games are coming thick and fast at the end of the season. How are your reserves of energy?
I’ve fully recharged my batteries. I’m not used to taking it easy, I always give my all. As I haven’t played that many games, I’m raring to go and help out.

The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
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The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
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