19.03.2018Bayer 04

International update – Friendly against Bochum at Kurtekotten

This week sees the first international break for the Bundesliga in the World Cup year 2018. While ten Werkself pros and four youth players are in action for their national sides, the rest of the first team squad will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Bundesliga match against FC Augsburg on Easter Saturday. A friendly has also been arranged: The match between Bayer 04 and second division VfL Bochum on Thursday has been moved from the Haberland Stadium to the Kurtekotten Academy. The kick-off time of 15.00 CET remains the same and there is free entry. The game against the team coached by Robin Dutt, which includes two former Bayer 04 players Sidney Sam and Robbie Kruse, will be broadcast live on bayer04.de and Facebook.

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno and Julian Brandt could feature in two very interesting friendlies for Germany. The team coached by Joachim Löw entertain Spain in Düsseldorf on Friday 23 March at 20.45 CET before the match against record world champions Brazil at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Tuesday 27 March at 20.45 CET.

The Germany U 21s, including skipper Jonathan Tah and Benjamin Henrichs, are involved in a battle for crucial points in European Championship qualifiers. The team under coach Stefan Kuntz, who are leading Group 5 with 12 points from five games ahead of Ireland (on 10), play Israel on Thursday 22 March in a 19.00 CET kick-off in Braunschweig before the fixture in Kosovo on Tuesday 27 March at 18.45 CET..

Following a long injury lay-off, Tin Jedvaj returns to the Croatia squad for the two friendlies in the USA against Peru (Friday 23 March in Miami) and Mexico (Wednesday 28 March in Arlington/Texas). Julian Baumgartlinger and Austria have friendlies against Slovenia on Friday 23 March 20.45 CET and Luxembourg on Tuesday 27 March at 20.30 CET. Panos Retsos also has two games in prospect with Greece starting on Friday 23 March at 21.00 CET against Switzerland in Basel and that is followed on Tuesday 27 March at 20.00 CET by match against Egypt in Zürich.

Charles Aránguiz is with Chile for two games in Scandinavia with Sweden the opponents on Saturday 24 March at 18.00 CET in Solna and Denmark on Tuesday 27 March at 20.00 CET in Aalborg. Joel Pohjanpalo is in the Finland squad for their fixtures against Macedonia (Friday 23 March, 19.00 CET) and Malta (Monday 26 March, 19.00 CET).

Three Bayer 04 players are looking to complete a decisive step for the Germany U19 team on the way to July's European Championships in Finland. Kai Havertz captains the team under coach Meikel Schönweitz that also includes Sam Schreck and Atakan Akkaynak. To make it to the European Championship finals, the Germany U19s have to come out on top in three games against Scotland (21 March at 18.00 CET in Ennepetal), Norway (24 March at 12.00 CET in Hüsten) and the Netherlands (27 March at 18.00 CET in Ahlen). Only the group winners will progress to the finals in Finland.

Two other Bayer 04 U19 players are away on international duty: Jakub Bednarczyk is with Poland for the European Championship qualifiers against the Czech Republic, Italy and Greece, and Güven Yalcin is with the Turkey U19s for the same mission against Austria, Denmark and Bosnia.

Related News

Club - 26.05.2026

Successful season finale: Members event at the BayArena

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.

Bayer 04 - 25.05.2026

Season review 2025/26, part II: Highs and lows of an eventful season

Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.

Bayer 04 - 25.05.2026

Rogier Meijer leaves Bayer 04 to join Sparta Rotterdam as head coach

Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.

Bayer 04 - 24.05.2026

2025/26 season review, part I: Upheaval, change, euphoria

Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.