Summer signing Lennart Grill faces Moldova with the Germany U21s in Wiesbaden in the late afternoon. The game kicks off at 18.00 CET (live on ProSieben MAXX) with the Germany youngsters battling for crucial points to qualify for next year’s U21 Euros in Hungary and Slovenia. The big match in Group 9 is on 8 September in Heverlee: Grill and Co. are away to the Belgium U21s (kick-off: 16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX).
The Germany senior team also play their first game of the calendar year on Thursday. After the longest break in international fixtures in 70 years, Germany are involved in a real classic encounter: a clash with Spain. The game in Stuttgart kicks off at 20.45 CET and is live on ZDF and RTL. Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz are in the Germany squad with coach Joachim Löw also including the Werkself duo for second Nations League game against Switzerland three days later in Basel (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on ZDF). The matches are behind closed doors.
Joel Pohjanpalo and Lukas Hradecky start the new Nations League season at the same time as teammate Tah. The duo are set to play for Finland against Wales in Helsinki on Thursday (kick-off: 20.45 CET/live on DAZN). The European Championship participants are away to Ireland three days later (kick-off: 18.00 CET/live on DAZN).
A day later each time, Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger are in action with Austria. The Leverkusen players first travel to Oslo for the game against Norway on 4 September (kick-off 20.45 CET/live on DAZN). On Monday, 7 September, there is a home game against Romania. The kick-off is also at 20.45 CET and the streaming service DAZN is also broadcasting this match involving Black and Red players live.
After returning from loan, Tin Jedvaj and his Croatia teammates also face two real crunch games – both away from home. European champions Portugal are the first opponents in Porto on Saturday, 5 September. On 8 September, Jedvaj and Co. are away to World Cup winners France in Paris (both games kick off at 20.45 CET and are live on DAZN).
Moussa Diaby has the the longest journey of all the Bayer 04 internationals. The winger is set to play for the France U21s around 3,000 kilometres from Leverkusen. On Friday, 4 September, there is an away game against the Georgia U21s in Gori. Three days later, there is a match in Sumqayit against the Azerbaijan U21s. Both encounters kick off at 19.00 CET. Diaby and Co. are playing for a place in next year’s U21 Euros.
Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz (both Germany):
Thursday, 3 September (20.45 CET/live on ZDF and RTL): Germany v Spain (UEFA Nations League)
Sunday, 6 September (20.45 CET/live on ZDF): Switzerland v Germany (UEFA Nations League)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger (both Austria):
Friday, 4 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Norway v Austria (UEFA Nations League)
Monday, 7 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Austria v Romania (UEFA Nations League)
Joel Pohjanpalo and Lukas Hradecky (both Finland):
Thursday, 3 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Finland v Wales (UEFA Nations League)
Sunday, 6 September (18.00 CET/live on DAZN): Ireland v Finland (UEFA Nations League)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia):
Saturday, 5 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): Portugal v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Tuesday, 8 September (20.45 CET/live on DAZN): France v Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
Lennart Grill (Germany U21):
Thursday, 3 September (18.15 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Germany U21 v Moldova U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Tuesday, 8 September (16.00 CET/live on ProSieben MAXX): Belgium U21 v Germany U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Moussa Diaby (France U21):
Friday, 4 September (19.00 CET): Georgia U21 v France U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Monday, 7 September (19.00 CET): Azerbaijan U21 v France U21 (U21 Euros qualifier)
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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