Even though Werkself fans have to watch the Bayern Munich game from the sofa, they can still get the key pre-match information ahead of kick-off as usual. As with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg (1-4), the match magazine BayArena Aktuell is available as an ePaper. What do we need to know about the opponents? What are head coach Peter Bosz’ thougts on the game? Click HERE for the matchday magazine #B04FCB.
Once again, fans can get in the mood for today’s game 30 minutes before kick-off. From 15.00 CET, the Bayer 04 matchday broadcast ‘Spieltag – Die Show’ will be live on YouTube. The guest for the virtual interview at the Schwadbud: Former Bayer 04 and FC Bayern midfielder Zé Roberto. The 45-year-old is crossing his fingers for the Black and Reds. “My heart’s with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday,” said the Brazilian. Ahead of kick-off, Dirk Maverick will be singing the club song from home. That will be followed by the Werkself Radio match commentary.
Manuel Gräfe is in charge of today’s top game. The referee has been the man in the middle for 26 Werkself games with Bayer 04 clocking up 15 wins, four draws and seven defeats. In those 26 games, Gräfe has issued 48 yellow and seven red cards against Bayer 04.
3-1 and 2-1 – the last two league games against the record champions have been impressive. Bailey, Volland, Alario and Tah have fond memories of scoring against Bayern Munich. Will there be a repeat today? Three wins on the bounce would be a new record for the Werkself.
Even though the DFB Cup semi-final against FC Saarbrücken is to be played behind closed doors, fans can still be there – at least virtually. FCS are selling virtual tickets now. The income will be used to support their youth teams. Tickets are available from 5 euros at the Saarbrücken web shop.
Thanks to the outstanding 3-2 win after extra time against Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 Women went through to the DFB Cup semi-finals. The team coached by Achim Feifel will play SGS Essen. The kick-off at Kurtekotten is on Wednesday, 10 June at 16.00 CET. The final will on 4 July at the Rhein Energie Stadium in Cologne.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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