This friendly fixture will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the 2024 Bundesliga champions, 2024 German Cup and domestic Super Cup winners under the guidance of Leverkusen's new manager, Erik ten Hag. The game will serve as the high point of the team’s ten-day visit and training camp in Rio, as the club strengthens ties with Brazilian football and the country’s passionate fanbase. It is the first time ever that a Bundesliga holds preseason preparations in Brazil.
“Brazil has always held a special place in Bayer 04's history, with numerous Brazilian players contributing to our club's success over the decades,” said the club's Managing Director of Sport, Simon Rolfes. “This friendly against Flamengo's U20 is not just a match, it's a celebration of our shared footballing heritage and another step towards deepening our connection with fans in Brazil.”
While technically a youth side, Flamengo U20 are anything but ordinary and will be in full competition mode. The Rio-based squad is currently competing in the top tier of Brazil’s U20 Championship and were the 2024 U20 World Champions. Earlier this year, they were crowned for the second time in a row as U20 Copa Libertadores champions, earning them a spot in the prestigious Intercontinental U20 Cup against FC Barcelona this August—where South America’s best meets Europe’s elite.
“Facing one of the best age group teams in the world is an ideal start for summer. They represent one of the strongest youth programmes in football, and the level of talent, intensity and technical quality they bring will be a valuable early test for our squad,” added Rolfes, highlighting the sporting significance of the game.
Estádio da Gávea features a natural grass surface and is located in the scenic Lagoa neighborhood just half a kilometer from world-famous Leblon Beach. It features views of Twin Brothers and Pedra da Gávea mountains and Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The pitch was used as a training ground by the Netherlands national team during the 2014 World Cup.
Leverkusen's training camp in Brazil will include various activities aimed at community engagement and brand expansion throughout the visit, reflecting the club's commitment to its growing fanbase in Latin America. The friendly match at Estádio da Gávea is anticipated to be the tour’s highlight, offering fans an opportunity to witness the team's preparations and ten Hag’s first game in charge ahead of the 2025–26 Bundesliga season. A tribute to several former Bayer 04 legends from Brazil is planned during the game.
More information on the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 schedule will be announced soon.
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...
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