New captain Charles Aránguiz and his teammates have had about one and a half weeks to prepare. An unusually short length of time to get a team ready for a new campaign. "But the players who were here last season know how we want to play," Peter Bosz explained on Friday afternoon at the first press conference for several months in front of members of the media – although they were subject to strict hygiene regulations.
The illustrious circle of people who have taken in the demanding tactical ideas of the Dutchman includes Lennart Grill. The goalkeeper and former Kaiserslautern player has been training at Leverkusen since the middle of July. That means only Patrik Schick will have to get used to a new way of playing. The central striker joined the Werkself this week from AS Roma – and it seems highly likely that he will be included in the squad for Sunday. Bosz on the Czech Republic international: "He's only trained twice up to now. But what I've seen has been good – so he could play a role."
Schick will be at the BayArena a few days after his arrival. That also applies to 300 spectators who will be able to support the Werkself live for the first time in over six months. "It's a first step. Even though there are only 300 – I'm happy for every single fan," said Bosz. "It's much more fun playing in front of a crowd at a stadium. It's all part of it and it's a huge factor."
The spectators on Sunday will not be able to see Leon Bailey. The Jamaican is still waiting for test results after his time in quarantine in his home country. If they are negative then the 23 year-old will be allowed to travel to Germany. Meanwhile, Paulinho is working on his comeback. The Brazilian suffered a torn cruciate in the week before the DFB Cup final.
As it stands, Bosz will have the rest of his players to choose from on Sunday. Whoever the Dutchman finally chooses for the squad against Eintracht – the target has already been clearly defined: "We will take it seriously. Norderstedt deserve this game but it's one we have to win. The match is also important in respect of getting ready for the new campaign."
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werks11 Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Attendance: 300
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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