
That means the Werkself are in Group B along with the Portuguese champions, the team that finished third in La Liga and the Belgian champions from the Jupiler Pro League.
Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, was at the draw in Istanbul: "An exciting group with familiar faces. We now have to do everything we can to achieve stability as soon as possible in the league to be able to enjoy these great football nights and be in a position to win."
Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 sporting managing director, also spoke after the draw: "It's an interesting and balanced group. Atlético Madrid – there's always a special atmosphere. I played my last Champions League game in the old stadium in Madrid. All the teams have different ways of playing. I'm looking forward to the matches and I believe we can do something. We'll have to see that we get back on track in the league. The Champions League is a competition that also unleashes energy. We hope to find our rhythm in the coming weeks and rediscover our form in the next games."
The first matchday is on 6/7 September. The group stage finishes on 1/2 November. The match dates will be announced by Saturday 27 August at the latest.

Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
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