
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

Werkself TV shows highlights of the 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league...
Show more
The Werkself beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg to claim a crucial victory in the Greek capital. After a focused first-half display with a number of presentable chances, Patrik Schick crowned a textbook counter to hand the Werkself the lead on the hour (60’). The Czech rounded off his brace when he headed in from a corner just 144 seconds later. Bayer 04 maintained their lead with aplomb to achieve a good position for the return leg in Leverkusen.
Show more
Bayer 04 and Olympiacos had only met twice before the current UEFA Champions campaign. After the encounter on Matchday 7 of this season’s league phase, the Werkself travel to face the Greek side for the second time in just four weeks for the knockout play-off first leg. The Black and Reds were dominant for large spells in mid-January but lost 2-0 after missing a number of presentable chances. The Werkself aim to do better on Wednesday night to “seize the chance for revenge,” as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
A bitter end to the fifth showdown of the 2025/26 VBL Club Championship as the #B04eSports team failed to take any points in the three remaining matches of the preliminary online round of the fifth and final showdown, missing out on the offline round. They can no longer take points in the overall table. Bayer 04 slipped out on the top eight, so direct participation in the final event for the German Club Championship is no longer possible, with Bayer 04 having to contest the play-offs.
Show more