Bernd, on the road to the DFB Cup final we are up against our bogey team in this competition Werder Bremen: The six previous cup games against the second most successful club in this competition have ended in six defeats for Bayer 04. High time to improve this record, wouldn't you agree?
Bernd Leno: It will do us good to take Werder Bremen very seriously. The team has been shaken up since the arrival of the new coach. Their performances are improving and in the 1-0 win in December we saw how difficult it is to beat Werder. On the other hand, it is true we have a score to settle with Bremen in this competition. Our motivation is very high to overcome this hurdle at our own ground and progress to the semi-finals.
How important is the DFB Cup to you this season?
Leno: The DFB Cup is our European competition this season. That's applied since the first round in Karlsruhe. We're really up for this competition. It gives us a great chance of winning a title. That's almost impossible in the Bundesliga. Let's not forget: I definitely want to experience another cup final in Berlin.
Another?
Leno: Yes. I was at the Cup Final between Bayer 04 and Werder Bremen in 2009.
As a fan?
Leno: No. With a Germany youth international team. I can remember the atmosphere really well. The Olympic Stadium is completely different than with a normal Bundesliga match. This time I want to feel that special thrill as a player. Particularly as Kies has raved about that experience to us on several occasions. It would be massive if we could do that again for the end of his career – and, of course, bring the Cup back home with us.
You were in the Werkself side for the quarter-finals of this competition in 2014, 2015 and 2016 but did not manage to make it to the last four. Which Cup exit was the most disappointing?
Leno: For me it was going out against FC Kaiserslautern (2014, editors note). We didn't get anything right in the 120 minutes against them. Then they missed a penalty in extra time but we didn't exploit it. Instead they scored the winner just before the end. Unbelievable. That annoyed me for a long time.
We hope it'll be different today. Bremen are fighting against relegation in the league but in the Cup Werder have knocked out two Bundesliga sides in the wins against TSG Hoffenheim (1-0) and SC Freiburg (3-2). What sort of game are you expecting?
Leno: We'll probably have to be patient. Bremen won't do us the favour of going all out on attack. They will keep it tight at the back and look to play on the break. We have to be prepared for that. We can't afford to lose our heads and be too hectic. Our last home game against Mainz is definitely a valuable lesson in that direction. We were patient then too and were rewarded for our disciplined display after the break. We want to carry on from there.
What do you think the atmosphere will be like at the BayArena tonight?
Leno: The atmosphere has been really outstanding this season. I get the impression the experiences from last season have done us good. Of course, all the defeats were not good and everybody would have been happy not to have performed the escape act at the end of the season. But when we were up to our necks in it, the fans and team came together. That was start of something there were still benefiting from today. For example in the home game against Mainz. We were totally on top but couldn't score and went into half-time with the score at 0-0. There were no whistles, no moaning. Instead full support from the fans which we were able to repay with two goals after the break.
What part do fans play in knockout games like today's?
Leno: They play a big role. Knockout games usually provide special excitement. And if the game's up in the air then nerves can come into play. When your own fans help you in a situation like that then it's worth it's weight in gold. That support can make the difference required to win out in the end.
Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
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After 62 days of preparation, the time has finally come: the Werkself kick off the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season on Sunday (16:00 CEST) with an away match at RB Leipzig. Following a major shake-up over the summer, with eleven players leaving and twelve new signings, initial impressions from the past few weeks have given manager Roberto Pätzold great cause for optimism.
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SV Wehen Wiesbaden undoubtedly envisaged a different start to the new season. After two matchdays, the Hessen side currently sit bottom of the Liga 3 table. On Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), SVWW host the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Pokal at their home ground, the BRITA Arena. It was there, in this very competition a year ago, that the club almost pulled off a massive upset. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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