One thing is certain since Sunday night and the DFB Cup draw: The Bundesliga second half of the season game on Saturday 15 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET) away to FC Union Berlin will not be the last meeting between the Werkself and the team from Köpenick in the current campaign. The Bundesliga teams face each other in the DFB cup quarter-finals, albeit at the BayArena. Today, the DFB announced the timings for the last eight ties: Bayer 04 entertain Union on Wednesday 4 March at 18.30 CET. The match will be broadcast live on Sky, Sport1 and Werkself Radio (at bayer04.de).
DFB Cup quarter-finals:
Tuesday, 3 March, 18.30 CET: 1. FC Saarbrücken v Fortuna Düsseldorf (Sky)
Tuesday, 3 March, 20.45 CET: FC Schalke 04 v Bayern Munich (ARD/Sky)
Wednesday, 4 March, 18.30 CET: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v FC Union Berlin (Sport1/Sky)
Wednesday, 4 March, 20.45 CET: Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen (ARD/Sky)
Following today's FFT session (football fitness training), head coach Peter Bosz spoke to journalists on being positive about the competition for places in holding midfield. "Nadiem (Amiri, ed) did a great job against Dortmund, Lars (Bender, ed) did too," said the 56-year-old. After today's return of Exequiel Palacios, Charles Aránguiz and Julian Baumgartlinger to full training, it appears unlikely that Lars Bender will play in holding midfield. Bosz added: "Nevertheless, it's good to know as a coach that there is another option in this position." The Dutchman was also happy with the development of Daley Sinkgraven. The 24-year-old has started in the last four games after recovering from a thigh injury. "I know what Daley can do as I worked with him for a year at Ajax. After an injury, it's always difficult to find your rhythm again. But he's on the right track," said Bosz about his fellow countryman.
Central defender Jonathan Tah today celebrates his 24th birthday. Even at this young age, the Hamburg born defender can already look back at 167 games for Bayer 04. The 1.95 metre giant has scored four goals and provided seven assists. A notable achievement: Tah has only been sent off once: In a 2-1 away win for the Werkself at Bayern Munich (November 2019).
The Internet portal transfermarkt.de today published a special update of its market values. This included Leverkusen's winter signing Edmund Tapsoba. The market value of the 21-year-old was increased from 4.5 to 16 million euros. The central defender joined Leverkusen from the Portuguese top-flight side Vitória Guimarães.
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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