Bayer 04 head off for sunnier climes on the first Tuesday in the New Year for the third successive winter training camp in Orlando from 3 to 12 January 2017. In addition to intensive preparation for the forthcoming challenges in the Bundesliga and Champions League there are two matches in the Florida Cup. The opponents for the Werkself are the two top South American clubs Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina and Clube Atlético Mineiró from Brazil.
Bayer 04 enjoyed perfect conditions in Orlando in 2015 and 2016 and this time the Hotel Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate provides the base for the Werkself. At the start of this year, the Werkself played Santa Fe (Colombia) and SC Internacional (Brazil) in the Florida Cup. A 1-0 win against Santa Fe was followed by a 3-3 draw against SC Internacional.
The third year of this competition in 2017 will include the VfL Wolfsburg Academy team, SC Corinthians, Flamengo (both from Brazil), Barcelona SC (Ecuador) and Tampa Bay Rowdies from the Major League Soccer in addition to Bayer 04, Estudiantes de La Plata and club Atletico Mineiro.
The first opponent for the Werkself in the New Year will be Estudiantes de la Plata on 8 January at 14.00 (local time) at the A1Lang Stadium in Tampa. The Argentinian club won the Copa Libertadores de América, the premium club competition in South America, in 2009 and are currently fourth in the Primera Division in Argentina.
Clube Atlético Mineiró are the second opponent for Bayer 04 on 11 January at 19.00 (local time) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium in Orlando. Atletico Mineiro won the Copa Libertadores, in 2013, and in 2014 the club lifted the Recopa South America and won the domestic cup competition in Brazil. This season they are in fourth place in Brazil’s Serie A. One of the stars of the team is Robinho, former Brazil international and striker with Real Madrid.
Two home games for starters
Bayer 04 restart the Bundesliga with two home games: The first half of the season finishes with the match against third-placed Hertha Berlin on Sunday 22 January at 15.30 CET. The first matchday in the second half of the season sees Borussia Mönchengladbach visit the BayArena on Saturday 28 January (18.30 CET).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will to have manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir. The Morocco international suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle before the AFCON final defeat against Senegal (0-1 a.e.t.).
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The VBL Club Championship 2025/26 continues. Tonight, 27 January (live on Twitch and on the Bayer 04 app from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports team will play the remaining three matches in the online preliminary round of Showdown Four. They are up against FC Kaiserslautern, SC Freiburg and the current club champions and Showdown Three winners RB Leipzig, with whom Bayer 04, club runners-up and Showdown One winners, shared some memorable moments, especially last year. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Jonas Omlin. Bayer 04 have signed the 32-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes described the Swiss shot stopper, signed by the Werkself in reaction to the long-term absence of first choice keeper Mark Flekken, as an "internationally experienced keeper." Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the new signing, who will wear the number 18 jersey.
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Under the motto ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’, Bayer 04 are turning this season's UEFA Champions League season into a festival. In addition to a Spotify playlist that fans can use to get in the mood for the Champions League nights, there is also a tour pass with stickers for the respective UCL matches exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members. These could be picked up in the respective weeks of the matches. The sticker for the final clash in the league phase (Villarreal, 28 January, 21:00 CET) is now available at the Fanwelt. The competition for all diligent sticker collectors is also now open. Read on for further information.
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