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 turned in a dominant performance in a 7-0 win against fifth-tier side Sportfreunde Baumberg in their first friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. A brace from debutant Afonso Moreira (19', 27') either side of a Christian Kofane strike (23') put the Werkself 3-0 up in the first of the two 35-minute halves in Monheim am Rhein. After the break, Victor Boniface (49', 53'), Robert Andrich (56') and Nathan Tella (67') scored for the completely changed Leverkusen team. It was therefore a successful friendly debut for new head coach Carles Martínez and his team, although the hosts also had something to celebrate despite the defeat: the match marked the inauguration of Baumberg's new ground, the MEGA Stadion.
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Attention, Werkself fans: the new Away Matchday Collection is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt. It includes t-shirts, zip tops and jackets.
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Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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