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.
The final whistle of the current 2025/26 season marks the end of a unique partnership for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After more than three decades of collaboration and highly eventful times, the Bundesliga football club and the private brewery Bitburger are going their separate ways.
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Around four months after their bitter exit in the DFB Pokal Round of 16, the Bayer 04 Women are once again away to Hamburger SV. On Monday night (18:00 CEST), the Werkself will not only be looking to pick up important points in the final phase of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga at the Volksparkstadion, but also to make amends for their defeat on penalties.
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A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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