
International breaks always give the Werkself the chance for a friendly: That was the case last week with the match against VfL Bochum and it will be the same again during the next international break. The break between Bundesliga matchdays seven and eight will see Bayer 04 face third division neighbours SC Fortuna Köln on Thursday 5 October. The match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium kicks off at 15.00 CET and entrance is free. The stadium opens one hour before kick-off.
The team coached by Uwe Koschinat are enjoying an excellent start to the campaign in Germany's third tier and they are currently in third place after six league games. At the same time, Fortuna and league leaders Paderborn are the only unbeaten teams in the third division with the Cologne side winning four times and drawing twice to date. Bayer 04 and Fortuna Köln met in a friendly last November with the Werkself winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz.


The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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