The U19 training group was significantly smaller during the international break. But there are very good reasons for that: A total of eight players were able to show what they could do at first team training and, according to U19 coach Markus von Ahlen, “were able to gain important experience. The feedback was that the lads have done a good job but could have been a little livelier.” For von Ahlen and his fellow coach Patrik Weiser, the promotion of their players resulted in a significantly changed approach to the daily training sessions: “We often only had ten or eleven players in training,” von Ahlen reported. “That means you can work well on an individual basis but, on the other hand, it makes it difficult from the team tactics point of view.”
There is also good news in terms of the injury list. Both Marvin Alexa and Seymour Fünger were able to take part in much of the full training sessions during the international break with Yannick Schlösser and long-term injury Achunike-Elijah Ekene also able to get involved at times. “We hope our incredibly long injury list shortens soon,” said von Ahlen. The coaches will have to manage without the suspended goalkeeper Marcel Johnen with Jakob Brambach again stepping into the breach.
Regardless of their personal situation, Bayer 04 will be looking to register their first home win of the season on Sunday 18 October. With the kick off at 11.00 CEST, the U19s entertain Rot-Weiß Oberhausen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The game will again be played behind closed doors. The opponents have started the season with the maximum six points from their first two games. “Oberhausen have always been a tough opponent in recent years and you have to break them down,” said von Ahlen who says RWO are “very strong up front.” For his team, it is all about, “using space in attacks and improving efficiency both in attack and defence.” The U19s went into the international break on the back of the cup defeat against FC Köln.
The international break for the U17 side lasts a week longer. The team under Jan Hoepner and Tomasz Zdebel have a weekend off in the 17-strong Bundesliga West. The team have a friendly against the TSV Meerbusch U19s on Tuesday 20 October (kick-off: 19.15 CEST) at Kurtekotten.
The other Bayer 04 junior teams also have no competitive games at the weekend. The U8s have a friendly on Saturday 17 October (kick-off: 11.30 CEST) away to the Sportfreunde Königshardt U9s in Oberhausen and the youth teams will play other friendlies during the week.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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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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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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