
Before that, there is an extension to the 2021/22 season. The Werkself fly out to Mexico the day after the last Bundesliga match against SC Freiburg. Bayer 04 are taking part in the celebrations of the centenary of Bayer Mexico from 15 to 20 May. The Werkself play top-flight Mexican side Deportivo Toluca in a friendly on Tuesday 17 May. there are also a number of marketing and PR events plus discussions with representatives of the Mexican league as well as a cultural programme involving visits to welfare providers.
Lukas Hradecky and Co. will then go on holiday. While the international players are away with their teams in June, the rest of the Werkself squad will return to Leverkusen on the final weekend of the month. Two-day performance tests start on Saturday 25 June: Head coach Gerardo Seoane will lead the first training session at the BayArena on Monday 27 June.
The first friendly is planned for 9 July. The Werkself play MSV Duisburg on the Saturday. The Zebras secured their third class status last weekend. While the kick-off time (15.00 CEST) is already certain, the venue will be announced shortly. The teams will definitely meet here in this region.
Ten years of SalzburgerLand: Bayer 04 will again prepare for next season in Zell am See-Kaprun from 14 to 22 July. The first time in the region was in 2013 and in 2022 the Werkself will again stay at the Hotel TauernSPA in Kaprun and train at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See. Two friendly fixtures are planned.
25/26 June: Performance tests at the BayArena
27 June: First full training session at the BayArena
9 July: Friendly: Bayer 04 vs MSV Duisburg, kick-off: 15.00 CEST, venue: tbc.
14-22 July: Training camp in Zell am See/Kaprun with two friendlies
29 July-1 August: First round proper in the 2022/23 DFB Cup
5-7 August: Matchday one in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season
25 August: UEFA Champions League 2022/23 group stage draw
6/7 September: Matchday one of the Champions League group stage

The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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