"We are not taking an Olympian approach to the game at FC Bayern according to the motto 'It’s all about taking part.' We’re going there to get a result," said the 45-year old in determined mood ahead of the clash with the star-studded team of the record champions. "The quality of FC Bayern is beyond dispute. That makes it even more important to believe in our own strengths and try to put them into action as best we can."
Herrlich explained the foundations had been laid in the pre-season. "One of our targets in the past five weeks has been to get the team in top condition in terms of fitness." Following on from that, he referred to the recent impressive performance of his team in the 3-0 DFB Cup win at Karlsruher SC: "On a very heavy pitch, we succeeded in setting the tempo, dominating the game and finally earning the victory over 120 minutes. That shows the attitude of our group is absolutely right."
Although Kevin Kampl, Joel Pohjanpalo, Sven Bender, Julian Brandt and Jonathan Tah have had to ease off in training this week for a number of reasons, Heiko Herrlich is "cautiously optimistic that all of them will be fit and able to play." However, there is a major doubt about Kai Havertz who received a painful blow on the knee in last Friday's Cup match and has been sidelined ever since. Herrlich is also prepared for the absence of the youngster: "We’ll make up for missing players as best we can. There are several options both in terms of personnel and tactics." He will definitely have to make do without Tin Jedvaj (shin) and Lars Bender (rehab) for the trip to Munich .
The match away to FC Bayern is the first Bundesliga fixture for Heiko Herrlich as Bayer 04 head coach. He is happy to remember his first away match in Munich. As a 17-year-old, in a Werkself shirt, he came on as a substitute to replace goalscorer Marek Lesniak in the 1-0 win on 21 October 1989. "Of course, it will be a very pleasant experience to go and win the first match at Bayern Munich," added Herrlich. It would be good if history does repeat itself – this time on the touchline.
The Werkself will have the support of 3,700 fans in Munich.
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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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
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