The Italians, who lost to the Werkself in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in August 2015 (1-0 and 0-3), finished fifth in Serie A last season to qualify for the Europa League. The team is coached by Simone Inzaghi who has recently agreed a contract extension to 2020. Stars in the line-up of the two-time Italian champions and six-time winners of the Italian Cup include the Brazilian Felipe Anderson and strikers Immobile and Keita.
Remaining Werkself pre-season friendlies:
27 July, 18.30 CET, Zell am See:
Bayer 04 v Antalyaspor
30 July, 15.30 CET, Grödig:
Bayer 04 v Lazio
5 August, 14 .00 CET, BayArena:
Bayer 04 v Celta Vigo
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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