
We didn’t start the New Year well. Of course, we can’t be happy even though we did qualify for the Round of 16 in the cup with the win against Eintracht Frankfurt the week before. One point from the last four Bundesliga games does not live up to our expectations – in spite of strong opponents.
We’re facing one of them today as well. You don’t have to describe Borussia Dortmund’s qualities as they are well-known. But so are our’s. Although we haven’t picked up the points, we have shown a positive trend in the last two games. The first half at Union Berlin was worthy of a top team. The only thing missing was a goal.
We want to do better against BVB. Despite the recent setbacks, a good result could see us move on up. This special season shows that the clubs involved in Europe have to pay the price for a very demanding fixture schedule. That all applies on each and every matchday. The race is a long way from being over.
A word on the events in Berlin on Friday night. It’s always been the case that there can be verbal rough and tumble on the pitch at times. When I was playing, incidents like that were mostly forgotten by the end of the game. Things stayed on the pitch when you shook hands. But these days the players involved and the public are more sensitive. So whoever goes beyond the mark has to live with the consequences. Nevertheless, I believe that a sincere apology means you can deal with an issue in a conciliatory way.
Best wishes, Rudi Völler

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss against VfL Wolfsburg on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Bayer 04’s eight opponents in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League have been confirmed. At the draw on Friday 28 August held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the Werkself were drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots. There are a total of four home and four away matches. Read on for details of opponents and fixture dates.
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In the 3-2 defeat at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg, the Werkself found the back of the net in the closing stages and, with a bit of luck, could still have equalised. “Today, our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” said head coach Carles Martínez. Like the boss, Ibrahim Maza also wants to learn from the match and look ahead: “Next week, people should be able to see from the very first minute that we want it more than our opponents.” The Werkself review on the Bundesliga opener in 2026/27.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-3 loss at SV 07 Elversberg on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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No points to start the league campaign: Bayer 04 lost 3-2 away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg in the first Bundesliga match of the 2026/27 campaign. Two quick-fire goals from Lukas Petkov (8’) and Cole Campbell (10’) gave the hosts an early lead, before David Mokwa scored the Saarland side’s third shortly after half-time (46’). In the closing stages, the Werkself rallied and staged a late comeback with goals from Patrik Schick (77’) and Christian Kofane (90+1’), but the Black and Reds were denied an equaliser.
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