Opposition is provided by two top South American clubs in Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina and Club Atlético Mineiró from Brazil.
Bayer 04 enjoyed perfect conditions in Orlando in 2015 and 2016 and the Werkself will again be based at the Hotel Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. At the start of this year the Werkself played Santa Fe (Colombia) and SC Internacional (Brazil). A 1-0 win against Santa Fe was followed in the second match by a 3-3 draw with SC Internacional.
Werkself striker Chicharito, who was followed by several hundred fans at the training camp, scored two goals in the tournament and was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2016 Florida Cup.
In addition to Bayer 04, Estudiantes de La Plata and Clube Atlético Mineiró, the third tournament in 2017 also involves VFL Wolfsburg, FC Corinthians, Flamengo (both from Brazil), Barcelona SC (Ecuador) plus the Tampa Bay Rowdies from the American Major League Soccer.
The first opponent for the Werkself next year will be Estudiantes de La Plata on eight January at 14.00 (local time) at the A1 Lang Stadium in Tampa. In 2009 the club won the Copa Libertadores de América, the most important club competition in South America, and they currently lead the Primera Divisíon in Argentina ahead of Boca Juniors.
Clube Atlético Mineiró are the second opponents for Bayer 04 on 11 January at 19.00 (local time) in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium. In 2013 Atletico Mineiró won the Copa Libertadores, in 2014 club lifted the Recopa Sudamericana and went on to win the domestic cup competition in Brazil. This season the team is currently fourth in the Brazilian top-flight. One of the stars of the team is the former Brazil international and Real Madrid striker Robinho.
Bayer 04 picked up their first three points in the current Champions League campaign on matchday 4 in the league phase with a courageous and determined display in a 1-0 win at Benfica (1:0). "It was a hugely important win," said coach Kasper Hjulmand after the game, paying tribute to his players for their battling performance right to the end. The Werkself defended resolutely right to the end and kept out off shot after shot. Keeper Mark Flekken said: "We were determined to get these three points and gave everything we had on the pitch!" Read on for more reaction plus the facts and stats on the away win at the Portuguese record champions in the Werkself review.
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The second European away game takes the Werkself to the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Kasper Hjulmand's team will face record champions Benfica on Wednesday, 5 November (kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET) on matchday 4 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. As usual, we will take you along on the #aCROSSeurope journey and report from Lisbon. The times given are Central European Time.
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Werkself TV shows highlights of the 1-0 win for Bayer 04 at Benfica on matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...
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The Werkself beat Benfica 1-0 on Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase to seal three crucial points! Both teams had promising chances in the first half, but the contest was goalless at half-time. Substitute Patrik Schick headed in to score the only goal after the restart (65’). The home side went looking for an equaliser but Bayer 04 defended passionately to see out the storm.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win against Hamburger SV on the 9th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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