The Werkself, in Group D, play the Italian serial champions with Cristiano Ronaldo, the runners-up in La Liga and the Russian league runners-up. The first matchday is on 17/18 September. The group stage is concluded on 10/11 December
Head coach Peter Bosz: "We are happy about this group draw. They are very, very strong teams that we’re up against. But that was clear to us from the start in this competition. A great challenge for us. Now it's down to us to master this challenge."
Rudi Völler, sporting managing director: "It's a highly attractive but also, of course, an extremely difficult group. We can look forward to fantastic Champions League nights. In Juve and Atlético we’ve been drawn against two absolutely top European teams and Locomotiv Moscow also have high quality as the runners-up in Russia. We will give everything we can to go through to the Round of 16."
Sporting director Simon Rolfes: "It's a top group with top teams. We played Atletico in the Round of 16 in the 2016/17 Champions League campaign – they were great games. Of course, Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo is a dream for our fans. And Russian teams are always dangerous and Lokomotiv Moscow are no exception. But I'm sure we will be a tough proposition for our opponents. Now we want to do all we can to have a successful group stage."
Group D
Matchday 1: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Lokomotiv Moscow on 18 September (Kick-off: 21:00 CET)
Matchday 2: Juventus v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 1 October (Kick-off: 21:00)
Matchday 3: Atlético Madrid v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 22 October (Kick-off: 18:55 CET)
Matchday 4: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Atlético Madrid on 6 November (Kick-off: 21:00)
Matchday 5: Lokomotiv Moscow v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 26 November (Kick-off: 18:55 CET)
Matchday 6: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Juventus on 11 December (Kick-off: 21:00 CET)
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The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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