The tie at the Wildpark Stadium marks the start of a hopefully successful season for the team managed by the new head coach Heiko Herrlich. The new Bundesliga campaign starts on Friday 18 August with the Werkself away to the champions of Germany Bayern Munich in the very first match of the season. The first home game at the BayArena is against TSG Hoffenheim on the following weekend. "We have a difficult start but we are not worried about it," said Jonas Boldt, sporting manager at Bayer 04, "we'll know straightaway where we stand."
DFB Cup First Round draw in full:
Friday, 11 August, 20.45 CET:
Rot-Weiss Essen v Borussia Mönchengladbach
Holstein Kiel v Eintracht Braunschweig
Karlsruher SC v Bayer 04
Saturday, 12 August, 15.30 CET:
VfB Germania Halberstadt v SC Freiburg
Lüneburger SK Hansa v FSV Mainz 05
SpVgg Unterhaching v FC Heidenheim
SV Eichede v FC Kaiserslautern
TuS Koblenz v SG Dynamo Dresden
TuS Erndtebrück v Eintracht Frankfurt
FC Rielasingen-Arlen v Borussia Dortmund
Leher TS v FC Köln
Chemnitzer FC v FC Bayern Munich
Saturday, 12 August, 18.30 CET:
Rot-Weiß Erfurt v 1899 Hoffenheim
SSV Jahn Regensburg v SV Darmstadt 98
Arminia Bielefeld v Fortuna Düsseldorf
Saturday, 12 August, 20.45 CET:
Würzburger Kickers v SV Werder Bremen
Sunday, 13 August, 15.30 CET:
FC Saarbrücken v FC Union Berlin
SV Morlautern v SpVgg Greuther Fürth
FC Eintracht Norderstedt v VfL Wolfsburg
FC Schweinfurt 05 v SV Sandhausen
Bonner SC v Hannover 96
FC Nöttingen v VfL Bochum
1860 Munich v FC Ingolstadt
VfL Osnabrück v Hamburg SV
Sportfreunde Dorfmerkingen v RB Leipzig
Sunday, 13 August, 18.30 CET:
FC Magdeburg v FC Augsburg
Energie Cottbus v VfB Stuttgart
SV Wehen Wiesbaden v Erzgebirge Aue
Monday, 14 August, 18.30 CET:
SC Paderborn 07 v FC St. Pauli
MSV Duisburg v FC Nürnberg
BFC Dynamo v FC Schalke 04
Monday, 14 August, 20.45 CET:
FC Hansa Rostock v Hertha BSC
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
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A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
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After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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