Gerardo Seoane looks back at the DFB Cup tie at Lokomotive Leipzig (3-0) with the same positive attitude as he does for the past week in training. The 42-year-old: "We were very well organised and professional in the game in Leipzig. Over the past few days, we've worked intensively on the match against Union and I'm in good spirits now. In addition, There is plenty of proactive communication and the team committee is taking responsibility both on and off the pitch."
Seoane not only has a positive assessment of the football at Bayer 04. The Swiss coach further detailed his impressions of the club: "We have very great expertise in all areas beginning with the board. My direct contact is Simon Rolfes who I work very closely with – as was the case with Christoph Spycher in Bern. It was important to me to discover an environment that supports and backs me up."
Bayer 04 will have to manage without Florian Wirtz for the Bundesliga opener in the capital. The youngster is still ruled out due to injury. In contrast to the cup tie in Leipzig, Paulinho is now back on board. The striker won a gold medal at the Olympics in Japan with the Brazil team and he returned to training during the week. "Paulinho has returned with positive energy and is match fit. He's absolutely an option. Even though he has some strenuous weeks and a long journey behind him, he can help us out with his ability," said head coach Seoane.
The assertiveness and ball control of the 21-year-old could be needed against FC Union Berlin who, according to Seoane, "have established themselves in the Bundesliga the past few years with their playing and battling qualities." One of the main factors in the success of the first German participants in the Europa Conference League is head coach Urs Fischer. The 55-year-old comes from Switzerland like his opposite number at Leverkusen and he "worked very successfully in Switzerland and is now doing it again in the Bundesliga."
Seoane and the Werkself can expect an emotional and intensive first Bundesliga game in front of a good crowd.
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself-Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
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After 62 days of preparation, the time has finally come: the Werkself kick off the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season on Sunday (16:00 CEST) with an away match at RB Leipzig. Following a major shake-up over the summer, with eleven players leaving and twelve new signings, initial impressions from the past few weeks have given manager Roberto Pätzold great cause for optimism.
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SV Wehen Wiesbaden undoubtedly envisaged a different start to the new season. After two matchdays, the Hessen side currently sit bottom of the Liga 3 table. On Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), SVWW host the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Pokal at their home ground, the BRITA Arena. It was there, in this very competition a year ago, that the club almost pulled off a massive upset. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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