The cup tie in Leverkusen a day before Christmas Eve represents the end of an unusual year of competitive football for the Red and Blacks. One curious fact: While the Werkself have played the Eagles 70 times in the league, this is only the second meeting in the DFB Cup. All Bayer 04 supporters will remember the first: Eintracht and Bayer 04 faced each other at the semi-final stage in 1993. In what was considered to be the supposed final, the Werkself won 3-0 with goals from Andreas Thom (2) and Ulf Kirsten. Bayer 04 went on to win the DFB Cup for the first time against the Hertha Berlin Reserves with Kirsten scoring the only goal of the game.
The two Bundesliga games ahead of the cup tie against Eintracht also promise to be entertaining encounters: On Wednesday 16 December (kick-off: 20.30 CET) Bayer 04 are away to Rhine rivals FC Köln. And Bayern Munich visit the BayArena on the weekend of 19/20 December.
After a few days of a well-earned 'winter break', the opponents for the Werkself are again Eintracht Frankfurt – albeit in another competition. The team under head coach Peter Bosz are away to Eintracht on Bundesliga matchday 14 on the first weekend of 2021 (2/3 January) .
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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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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