The match against Würzburger Kickers will be played at the JAKO Arena in Hollenbach in a 17.30 CET kick-off. The friendly has been organised by JAKO AG, kit supplier to both teams, in association with FSV Hollenbach.
Rudi Sprügel, founder and chairman of the board at JAKO AG: "I'm happy we can provide people from our home region with a great night of football. We have deep roots in Hohenlohe and therefore it is something special for me and our 230 employees to be able to watch the two teams on the pitch where our history as a sports kit supplier began."
After Rudi Sprügel founded JAKO Sportartikel Vertriebs GmbH in 1989 in his brother’s garage, the footballers of FSV Hollenbach were the first team to play in JAKO strips. Bayer 04 Leverkusen with the first team to wear the brand in the UEFA Champions League last season. Würzburger Kickers are not just regional neighbours for JAKO but also the club where Sprügel played in the second Bundesliga South division in 1977/78.
‘JAKO Land’ on the artificial pitch opens its gates at 15.30 CET. Children are warmly welcome to make full use of the sports games available. Adults can enjoy a cool evening drink at one of the many catering stands. Due to safety considerations, bags are not permitted on the sports ground. In addition to the main entrance there is also another gate on the south side of the ground. Parking is available at the companies ebm-papst and JAKO.
Entrance is free for children under the age of 13. Children aged from 14 to 17, students, senior citizens and women are entitled to the concession tickets for €5 and the adult price is €10. Tickets are available from Monday 26 June online www.jako.de and from local ticket outlets.
Friendly at SV Sandhausen
Bayer 04's friendly at second division SV Sandhausen will be played at the BWT Stadion am Hardtwald on 23 July with a 14.30 CET kick-off. Sandhausen have been in the second division since the 2012/13 season and they finished in tenth place last term. SVS players Leart Paqarada, Erik Zenga and Richard Sukuta-Pasu started their careers at Bayer 04.
Following the match, Bayer 04 will head straight to the training camp in Zell am See/Kaprun where they will prepare for the new campaign for the fifth time in succession.
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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