
In addition, there is again a colourful collection of reports, images and other interesting stories from the Black and Red world of football. The recently crowned Argentinian World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios is obviously included as is Florian Wirtz, whose comeback after a long time on the sidelines is a reason to celebrate and not just for Bayer 04 fans. “The return of the ‘improver’” is the headline of the story about the 19-year-old who voluntarily provides an insight into his frame of mind during the often difficult months in rehab. Other subjects covered include the forthcoming Europa League tie with AS Monaco and the Werkself USA tour to St. Louis.
There is also some interesting reading matter away from the first team. Ken Izekor is already a prolific goalscorer with the Bayer 04 U17 team at the age of 15 and he could feature for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League. Friederike Repohl, the Bayer 04 Women’s team keeper, looks back at her biggest game and recalls some great saves in the penalty shoot-out to win the DFB Cup in 2020.
A profile of the Leverkusen club SV Schlebusch, one of the three winners of the volunteering award, completes the magazine along with a very unusual international fan community for whom no way is too far in following the Werkself. And, on top of that, the reader also has a deeper insight into the demanding work of a reporter for the visually impaired at Bayer 04. The Werkself magazine number 40 – full of exclusive Black and Red content.

A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.
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The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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