
The maxim for the event: "Get off your office chairs and put on your trainers. That was the slogan for the B2Run, which was again held in Cologne on Thursday. There was another good turnout from Bayer 04 staff among the 23,000 runners for the third time at this big event. "It was really great fun again," said Jenny Weber, who has now taken over the organisation of the Bayer 04 running group.
The response was similar to last year with some 40 sports-mad Bayer 04 members of staff from all departments taking part in the run, which is one of the biggest in Germany. For the participants in Black and Red, who again prepared for the run under their coach Tatjana Rüber, the start in Cologne is always a special highlight in their sporting calendars. "We're already looking forward to next year's run, said Jenny Weber on behalf of the Bayer 04 group.
The course through the city forest was 5.4 kilometres long and the finishing line was at the RheinEnergie Stadium as usual. A glass of Kölsch beer was raised for the people completing the run and several members of the Leverkusen running group took advantage of the invite to the after-run party in the VIP area at the Cologne Arena. The star guest at the event was B2Run ambassador Magdalena Neuner, double Olympic Gold medal winner and twelve-time biathlon world champion.

The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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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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