
Due to organisational reasons, the first friendly against third division SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Wednesday, 14 July will be played behind closed doors at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. Anybody wanting to watch the first Werkself match of the summer live from 18.00 CEST, can watch the game on the Bayer 04 YouTube channel or on Sport1.
Following the training camp (16-23 July), the team led by new head coach Gerardo Seoane will play another two matches in Leverkusen. Both the game against the Dutch top-flight side FC Utrecht (28 July, 16.00 CEST) and the meeting with the Spanish La Liga club Celta Vigo (31 July, 16.00 CEST) will be played at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
If the coronavirus pandemic situation remains stable in Leverkusen then it is possible that fans may return for the two friendlies. Spectators will have to be vaccinated, recuperated or have a negative test. In addition, no away fans are allowed to attend either game. Bayer 04 will publish further information on any access procedures immediately before the two matches.

A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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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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