Carl Zeiss Jena today play the Werkself for the third time in competitive matches. The previous two games were also in the DFB Pokal and both ended with victory for the Black and Reds. The Werkself secured a 4-0 win in the first round in the last meeting (2012). Simon Rolfes, sporting managing director at Bayer 04, gave the visitors in Jena the lead after just three minutes. 20 years earlier, the Black and Reds won 2-0 in the quarter-finals in the 1992/93 season and went on to lift the DFB Pokal. Bernd 'Schnix' Schneider, who went on to become a world-class player at Bayer 04 a few years later, was playing for Carl Zeiss Jena back then.
Carl Zeiss Jena beat Bundesliga teams in three of their first four DFB Pokal ties but Jena only went through once in nine such meetings. Bayer 04 have won all of their 14 first round Pokal ties against fourth tier teams – that is a record as no other team has won as many of those ties.
The game away to the Regional League side will not be a walkover. Carl Zeiss Jena have made a brilliant start to the season winning all five games played so far in the Regional League North East. The team led by head coach Henning Bürger, who was a player at FCC, have a new star in attack, striker Erik Weinhauer. The 23-year-old forward has scored ten goals in the past five games – and he achieved a record on matchday two: Weinhauer scored five times in the first half in 6-2 win against Hertha Zehlendorf, a feat never before achieved in the Regional League North East. Further information on Carl Zeiss Jena can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
The Werkself will wear black arm bands tonight. Bayer 04 are thereby remembering Christoph Daum. The former Werkself coach passed away last Saturday at the age of 70. Daum led the Werkself to three runners-up finishes between 1996 and 2000 as well as three Champions League campaigns.
#50JahreDeutscheKrebshilfe: Bayer 04 will wear the logo of the cancer organisation Deutsche Krebshilfe on their shirts in place of the usual sleeve sponsor. This is to mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation. The Werkself are looking to raise the profile of the long-term commitment to the foundation. The home shirt with the special sleeve logo from DKH is available today from the online shop. Further information available HERE.
Directions, catering, contacts and more: The Bayer 04 fan liaison team have put together key information on the away game in Jena to the 1600 travelling Werkself fans. Click HERE for the fan information.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Welz as the referee for the Pokal time in the arena. The 47-year-old match official has previously been in charge of 18 games involving the Werkself. Welz's assistant referees are Dr. Martin Thomsen and Cristian Ballweg with Alexander Sather in action as the VAR.
The match will be broadcast live on ZDF and Sky. Werkself Radio is also available for anyone unable to be at the game. The audio broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann. In addition, the live text update service will keep fans up-to-date at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
The fixture details for the Round of 16 ties in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been finalised. Accordingly, Bayer 04's away match at Borussia Dortmund will be played on Tuesday, 2 December, at 21:00 CET. This was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) today (Thursday).
Show more
Bayer 04 picked up their first three points in the current Champions League campaign on matchday 4 in the league phase with a courageous and determined display in a 1-0 win at Benfica (1:0). "It was a hugely important win," said coach Kasper Hjulmand after the game, paying tribute to his players for their battling performance right to the end. The Werkself defended resolutely right to the end and kept out off shot after shot. Keeper Mark Flekken said: "We were determined to get these three points and gave everything we had on the pitch!" Read on for more reaction plus the facts and stats on the away win at the Portuguese record champions in the Werkself review.
Show more
The second European away game takes the Werkself to the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Kasper Hjulmand's team will face record champions Benfica on Wednesday, 5 November (kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET) on matchday 4 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. As usual, we will take you along on the #aCROSSeurope journey and report from Lisbon. The times given are Central European Time.
Show more
Werkself TV shows highlights of the 1-0 win for Bayer 04 at Benfica on matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...
Show more
The Werkself beat Benfica 1-0 on Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase to seal three crucial points! Both teams had promising chances in the first half, but the contest was goalless at half-time. Substitute Patrik Schick headed in to score the only goal after the restart (65’). The home side went looking for an equaliser but Bayer 04 defended passionately to see out the storm.
Show more
