Located in the heart of Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone, Estádio da Gávea is known for its breathtaking backdrop and deep connection to Brazilian football history. Friday’s match not only marks an exciting footballing occasion but also the only official fixture in Bayer 04’s visit to Brazil – a match that will be Erik ten Hag’s first as the new coach at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
For Flamengo’s U20 side, the match presents a rare opportunity to showcase its top prospects on an international stage within a professional setting – an important step in their progression toward first team football. It also marks a meeting of two great brands in global football, highlighting a growing connection between South American and European clubs, and Flamengo’s commitment to building bridges through the game.
Fans around the world will be able to tune in live across a range of global broadcasters that include:
Former Bayer 04 legends scheduled to attend the game include Paulo Sergio, Renato Augusto, Ramon Menezes, Henrique, Zé Elias and Rodrigo Chagas, among others.
As part of the club’s commitment to community engagement, Bayer 04 will also welcome groups of local school children to the Gávea stands—using this unique occasion to inspire and give back to the local community. Fans and children will have the chance to interact with legends for autographs and photos.
Guests, employees, and regional heads from parent-company Bayer will also be in attendance, as the club deepens its sporting and cultural ties in Brazil, one of world football’s most iconic heartlands.
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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