Now the Werkself can focus completely on the Bundesliga campaign: The Bosz charges have eleven games left this season including electrifying encounters with direct rivals for a European finish from Hoffenheim (29 March, 20.30 CET), Leipzig (6 April, 15.30 CET) and Frankfurt (3 to 6 May, to be confirmed). There are 33 points up for grabs – and, ideally, Peter Bosz would like to take the complete haul as he declared after the Dortmund game. Saturday sees the start with a home game against FC Freiburg kicking off at 15.30 CET.
Wednesday morning saw the start of preparations for the game against the team lying thirteenth in the table who are currently unbeaten in four games. In a 90-Minute session in springlike sunshine, the focus was on passing, moves, finishing and ended with a practice match. The werkself skipper Lars Bender was again able to train with the team, as he did on Friday, after recovering from a hamstring injury. Karim Bellarabi (hamstring) and Lucas Alario (rested) completed individual workouts in the facilities at the BayArena along with Joel Pohjanpalo who is currently recovering from an ankle injury.
And there was positive news for Panos Retsos. The 20-year-old Greek returned to training alongside his team-mates in a 60-minute session on a neighbouring pitch. That means he could soon return to full training.
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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