
Oliver Roggisch, handball World Cup winner in 2007 and current manager of the Germany handball team, pulled out the balls at the German Football museum in Dortmund with ten Bayer 04 fans in the audience. The ties involving the remaining eight teams will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 and 7 February. Tickets for the game against Werder Bremen go on sale on 16 January. SC Paderborn, the only third division side left in the competition, have been drawn against record winners Bayern Munich.
Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade commented on the tie: “A good draw even though Werder haven’t always been easy to play against in the recent past. Of course, we’re very happy to be playing at home and we’ll do all we can to continue our cup run.” Head coach Heiko Herrlich said: “It’s a tough challenge and a great opportunity at the same time. Bremen have made progress under the new coach and are continuing to improve. Werder will give us a real test, just like in the league. On the other hand, we’re at home. With our fans behind us, we have a great chance of going through to the semi-finals. We definitely want to take that chance.“
The Werkself last played Werder Bremen at the BayArena on Bundesliga matchday 16 in the middle of December and ran out deserved winners with a 1-0 victory. Bayer 04 and Werder have often met in cup competitions including the UEFA Cup semi-final in 1988 and the DFB Cup final in 2009. The last cup meeting was also in the DFB Cup in the 2015/16 campaign at the quarter-final stage: Bremen fought back from a goal down at the BayArena to win 3-1. February brings the next shoot-out in the DFB Cup.
Eintracht Frankfurt v FSV Mainz 05
Bayer 04 v Werder Bremen
SC Paderborn v Bayern Munich
FC Schalke 04 v VfL Wolfsburg

A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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