Will the top trump from last season bring the Black and Reds the next points? Of all 13 clubs in the North West division, Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ de Cae and Co. have conceded the fewest goals (19). "A strong defence is a reflection of each player in our squad," said de Cae who will, as usual, start on the Xbox Series S/X.
Leverkusen, in fifth place, play third-placed Werder Bremen from 18.00 CET. De Cae meets Ali ‘PREDATORFIFA’ Oskoui Rad on Xbox.
Marc ‘MARC_LDW23’ Landwehr and his Leverkusen teammates play Hansa Rostock for the first time ever in the VBL later on in the evening (20.00 CET). The club from the Baltic coast are taking part in the official eSports competition for the first time this season. "Hansa Rostock have had an outstanding first season in the VBL so far. We are happy about every club that decides to take part in the VBL and thereby increase the value of the competition," said Florian Dederichs, head of internationalisation and eSports at Bayer 04. Rostock are currently ninth on 26 points.
All matches involving the #B04eSports players are streamed live as usual on the Bayer 04 Twitch channel. New signing Furkan ‘FURKY’ Kayacik will again host and commentate on the matches.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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