It is not only the final match of the year but also the last match in this competition for one of the two clubs: When Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer 04 meet in the DFB Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday (kick-off 18.30 CET) one thing is certain. There will only be one winner! Borussia have the better record in the German domestic cup competition up to now: In the previous five Cup ties with the Werkself, Gladbach have progressed to the next round four times – twice on penalties and once after extra time. It is to be expected the two teams will be on equal terms going into this tie. The 5-1 win for Leverkusen two months ago at Borussia Park may not be a blueprint for Wednesday’s encounter although the heavy defeat on the their own turf is a subject for discussion. “All of our players remember it. We all want to win now to restore our honour,” said Thorgan Hazard, the in-form striker for the Foals.
Heiko Herrlich is also fully aware that Gladbach have a score to settle with their rivals down the Rhine. “There won’t be anybody at Borussia who would say we don’t stand a chance after the 5-1. Gladbach will definitely think they’re in with a chance. And you have to say we were lucky in the first half of the league game in October that we weren’t 2-0 or more down at the break. We were on fire in the second half but weren’t good in the first,” said the Bayer 04 head coach at the pre-match press conference at the Media Centre in the Bay Arena, broadcast live as usual on bayer04.de and Facebook. The Werkself coach maintained that match did show his team “that it is possible to overcome the hurdle at Borussia Park and win there. It’s an all-or-nothing match and you can’t share points in the Cup. You go through or go out and that’s what makes this competition so exciting.”
There will definitely be changes in the Werkself line-up. Skipper Lars Bender is almost certainly ruled out of the game at Mönchengladbach but there is a possibility that his brother Sven will be able to play. “It’s not looking good for Lars as his knee is too swollen and it wouldn’t make sense,” said Herrlich, “with Sven, we’ll have to see if he can stand the pain after he took another blow to the ribs at Hannover. One thing is clear: The health of the players comes first so we won’t take any risks.”
After a three-match ban in the Bundesliga, left back Wendell is back in the squad and Charles Aránguiz is an option after recovering from a torn calf. “Charly trained yesterday and I assume his calf will stand up to it. I hope he can be in our squad on Wednesday,” said the Bayer 04 boss.
Bayer 04 will have the support of 2,730 fans at Borussia Park on Wednesday night.
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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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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