Bayer 04 could have considered themselves lucky at the end of the game. Only an impressive spell late on saw the Werkself secure a 3-2 away win in Berlin in the middle of February after the team from Köpenick made the better start to the game. The impressive performances by the newcomers in the league game should serve as a warning for the cup tie between the two teams – particularly as Union have fared so well on the road in recent times. The last two away fixtures in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1) and Werder Bremen (2-0) were both won by the by Urs Fischer’s team – as was the DFB Cup Round of 16 tie at Regional League side SC Verl (1-0) that saw Union progress to the quarter-final encounter in Leverkusen.
The club from the capital are enjoying their best season in the DFB Cup since the legendary campaign in 2000/01 when the Berliners sensationally progressed to the final only to lose 2-0 to Schalke 04. Union started their current cup run with a 6-0 victory at Germania Halberstadt and a 3-1 win against league rivals SC Freiburg.
Even though the two goals conceded by Bayer 04 in the league match came from open play: The Werkself will have to be wary of set pieces from the Berliners. In Marvin Friedrich, Neven Subotic, Sebastian Polter and, in particular, Sebastian Andersson, Union have several outstanding headers of the ball and in the Bundesliga they have won the most aerial challenges by a distance: Unions players have come out on top in 763 of those challenges and Freiburg have the second highest number with over 200 less. In addition, Union have an outstanding set-piece specialist in Christopher Trimmel. The captain set up both goals from free kicks in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg.
But set plays are not the only danger given the exploits of one proven cup specialist: Midfielder Robert Andrich needed 23 games to score his first goal in the Bundesliga and yet has found the back of the net in the last three Union Berlin cup games. He scored the fifth goal at Halberstadt, the crucial second goal for his team at Freiburg and the winner in the 1-0 win at Verl. Andrich scored all three goals late on. So Bayer 04 should keep an eye out for the 25-year-old particularly at the end of the cup tie.
Talking about late on: In recent weeks, Union have again and again had problems in the final stages of games with four of the last six goals conceded after the 75th minute. The Berliners have led in the last three Bundesliga fixtures but only ended up winning once – and that was put at risk in Frankfurt with an own goal in the last quarter of an hour. Union conceded two goals in the last ten minutes against the Werkself and, in Sunday’s game against Wolfsburg, the Wolves equalised on 81 minutes to cancel out a 2-0 lead.
Tenth place after 24 games, a nine-point lead over the play-off spot and a place in the cup quarter-finals – the performance of the Berliners in their first season in the top-flight is more than remarkable. It certainly looks like Union should be able to establish a place in Germany's first division in the coming seasons. The club has certainly made a name for themselves over the years.
In spite of the recently discovered strength away from home, Union Berlin are the underdogs at Leverkusen. However, if the team led by Urs Fischer can repeat the performance in the Bundesliga game against the Werkself then that could make the quarter-final a tough proposition for Bayer 04.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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