Bayer 04 are in the last eight of Germany's domestic cup competition for the sixteenth time in the club's history. The Werkself are just two steps away from a big target, two steps away from a thrilling final in the capital. That is what Heiko Herrlich and his players are aiming for. Kevin Volland and captain Lars Bender spoke for the whole team when they said: "It would be a dream come true to get to the final."
Bayer 04 are two wins away from Berlin and the next hurdle promises to be an exciting encounter: The tie against Werder Bremen at the BayArena on Tuesday 6 February kicks off at 20.45 CET. This all-or-nothing game against the Green and Whites is anything but a foregone conclusion. Werder are looking to move up to mid-table in the Bundesliga and they lost 1-0 away to the Werkself in December (goalscorer Lucas Alario celebrates above). However, it is clear Bremen under new coach Florian Kohfeldt have grown enormously in strength and confidence, which they demonstrated on the penultimate Bundesliga matchday when they gave Bayern Munich a run for their money at the Allianz Arena up to the final stages of the game that they ended up losing 4-2.
Bayer 04 are obviously looking for the fans to help get them through to the semi-finals. Leverkusen did lose out at the quarter-final stage of the DFB Cup two years ago at home to Bremen. The match at the BayArena ended in a 3-1 defeat. Chicharito put the Black and Reds 1-0 up from the penalty spot before Garcia, Pizarro and Grillitsch turned the game round for the visitors. "We were too ponderous after taking the lead," said sporting director Rudi Völler back then.
The Werkself will be determined not to repeat that performance this time round. So the maxim for Tuesday 6 February is: Full speed ahead for the semi-finals, all together for the penultimate match on the the road to Berlin.
Tickets for the Bremen Cup tie are available
- online at the ticket webshop
- by phone on 0049 (0)214 5000 1904
- in person at the Service Counter OST (BayArena, Bismarckstraße 122-124) and at the Bayer 04 shops in Leverkusen City, Bergisch Gladbach and Solingen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
Show more
Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 meet again in the Bundesliga for the first time in almost eight years. This Tuesday evening, 13 January (kick-off: 20:30 CET), the promoted team with impressive home form welcome the Werkself to the Volksparkstadion to round off the Hinrunde. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
The Werkself are away to Hamburg SV at the end of the Hinrunde in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The match at the newly promoted club is on Tuesday night, 13 January (kick-off: 20:30 CET). Ahead of the first encounter with HSV since 2018, Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the strengths of the opponents, lessons learnt from the home defeat against VfB Stuttgart and provided a squad update.
Show more
