There's something about playing TSG Hoffenheim in the first home game of the season. This will be the third time Bayer 04 have kicked off their home campaign against Hoffenheim. The first time was on 15 August 2009, which was a special date in the Leverkusen club's history. The match against TSG was the opening fixture at the rebuilt BayArena. And it was also a day of celebration for the Werkself pros and supporters alike: Away from the unpopular temporary home in Düsseldorf after a period of six months and finally back in familiar surroundings.
The Bayer 04 team, playing Hoffenheim in front 28,000 fans, were first out of the blocks and were clearly determined not to allow the visitors to spoil the opening party. However, patience was a definite virtue on that day. After the team, under coach Jupp Heynckes, had squandered a number of chances from Tranquillo Barnetta, Sami Hyypiä and Stefan Kießling, the only goal of the game was scored by Kießling on 67 minutes: Renato Augusto put the ball in from the right, it was backheeled to his fellow striker by Eren Derdiyok for a tap-in from close range.
The second time Bayer 04 met TSG in the first home game of the season was the opening fixture in the 2015/16 season. The Werkself came out on top again with Kießling playing a decisive role. Just before the break, the goal-getter scored to level at 1-1 after the TSG keeper Oliver Baumann parried a shot from Wendell. 'Kies' made his name as a bogeyman for the team from the Kraichgau and he lived up to that with his tenth goal against TSG. Steven Zuber had given Hoffenheim the lead on five minutes – the first goal conceded at home by the Werkself in 874 minutes after Bernd Leno had kept so many clean sheets at the BayArena. Julian Brandt, off the subs bench for just seven minutes, scored the deserved winner to make it 2-1 on 71 minutes after a counter-attack ending with an assist from Admir Mehmedi.
Bayer 04 and Hoffenheim face each other on Saturday for the third time in the opening Bundesliga fixture at Leverkusen. From a Werkself point of view, it will be good if the record is maintained.
FC Augsburg are top of the table for the first time in their Bundesliga history. After two wins for starters, FCA lead the German top-flight with six points and a goal difference of 7 to 1. This Saturday, 12 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), Augsburg are looking to build on their strong start to the season against the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Women will be without captain Carolin Simon and striker Valentina Mädl over the coming weeks. Both players missed last Friday's 2-1 Bundesliga win at TSG Hoffenheim because of muscle injuries.
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The Bundesliga has confirmed the schedule for Matchdays 5 to 11 of the 2026/27 season. The times at a glance.
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The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed the kick-off times for the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal on Thursday. Bayer 04 will meet 1. FC Nürnberg on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET.
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This Wednesday afternoon, the German Football Association (DFB) announced the exact kick-off times for Matchday 6 in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. According to the fixture list, the Bayer 04 Women’s home match against Werder Bremen will be played on Friday, 2 October, at 18:30 CEST.
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