Leverkusen are unbeaten in four competitive meetings with Bayern for the first time ever (W2, D2) and now want to extend that run by booking their place in the quarter-finals. However, the Werkself have only prevailed once before out of seven DFB Pokal ties with the Bavarians, which came in the 2008/09 quarters (4-2).
It’s Bayer 04’s first cup tie away at a Bundesliga club for six years, when they won 5-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Werkself have been victorious in their last three Pokal ties on the road at top-flight opposition.
Bayern have failed to reach the final for the last four years, falling in the second round against Holstein Kiel, Gladbach and Saarbrücken, as well as Freiburg at the quarter-final stage. The latter was actually the Munich club’s last home fixture in the cup. The competition’s most successful club will be desperate to go further again this year.
Bayern remain top of the Bundesliga and the only unbeaten team in the division following the weekend’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund. Prior to Dortmund’s goal, they had gone seven games and 690 minutes in all competitions without conceding and like Bayer 04 are in good form ahead of Tuesday’s cup encounter. However, they will have to do without the injured Harry Kane. Find out more about our opponents in our in-depth profile piece.
The Werkself will have the support of some 5,000 supporters who’ve made the midweek trip from Leverkusen down to Munich.
The German FA (DFB) has appointed Harm Osmers as Tuesday’s referee. The 39-year-old has previously overseen 16 competitive fixtures involving the Werkself, producing nine wins, four draws and three defeats. His assistants are Dominik Schaal and Stefan Lupp.
Having not been used in the first two rounds of the Pokal, VAR will again be used across all last-16 fixtures. Bastian Dankert will oversee that role for this game. Goalline technology can also be used as of this stage, but it is only available in Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stadiums.
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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