The draw was made by former Germany international Christoph Metzelder and the Germany U21 coach Stefan Kuntz.
"The main thing is to be at home," said striker Kevin Volland after the 4-1 win in the first round at Alemannia Aachen. That wish has come true. The Werkself will go into the DFB Cup clash at the BayArena with the backing of their fans plus the experience gained in the opening Bundesliga match of the season. In an entertaining Bundesliga encounter on matchday one, the teams coached by Peter Bosz and Steffen Baumgart were separated by just one goal in the 3-2 win for Bayer 04. Leon Bailey, Kevin Volland and Kai Havertz scored for Leverkusen. Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes: "A very challenging draw as the Bundesliga game against Paderborn proves. It's great that we’re at home. And, of course, we want to win the tie."
Bayer 04 fans can look forward to the rematch at the end of October. Ticket information to follow.
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
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