Just nine days separate the 2-1 defeat in Frankfurt in the first Bundesliga fixture in the New Year and the DFB Cup clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, which was moved from the end of December to 12 January at the request of Bayer 04. “The short period of time between the two is obviously unusual,” said Peter Bosz at the pre-match press conference on Monday and then he moved onto his analysis of the opponents. The 56-year-old added: “We’re up against a very good opponent. Of course, I don’t know what Adi Hütter (Eintracht Frankfurt, ed.) is intending to do but I can imagine they will try to play the same way they did two weeks ago – they did very well. But even more important is the way we play.”
In terms of their own game, Bosz sees a need for improvement for his team “in using the pitch” compared with the Bundesliga defeat at Eintracht. “That’s why we found it so difficult to play good football. We want to do better now,” said the head coach.
Bosz has the same players available for the second round tie as in the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday. “Florian Wirtz will be rested again tomorrow,” declared the Dutchman. The experienced Lars Bender, who made a 30-minute appearance against Werder Bremen following his recent injury, is again available. So there are no changes to the squad compared with the Bremen game.
For Bayer 04, the cup competition is “very important. The route is short. We saw what it’s like to be in the final last year. And when you play in a final then you also want and have to win it. And that’s what we want to do this time,” said Bosz.
A win against Eintracht Frankfurt would see the Werkself play at Regional League Rot-Weiss Essen in the Round of 16 in the DFB Cup. “To be honest: I only found out who our next opponents will be if we beat Frankfurt two days ago,” Bosz said. “But there’s no sense thinking about the next opponent if you don’t go through. So our full focus is on Eintracht Frankfurt first.”
Match info:
Broadcaster: Sky and Werks11 Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Show more
Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
Show more
