The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports a "goal-packed training session" for the Black and Reds. Nadiem Amiri and Lucas Alario put the game "beyond any chance of excitement in no time at all" with the goals to make it 2-0 and 3-0. One young attacker for the Werkself was particularly impressive: "In the middle of all the lively passing and dribbling, it was the 17-year-old Florian Wirtz who was involved in practically every halfway dangerous attack."
The Kölnische Rundschau headline reads: "Leverkusen give nothing away." According to the newspaper, the Black and Reds were "clinical" in the first half hour and went on to play "in overdrive." The report continues: "Even after the shortest period of preparation for all participants on this weekend, Leverkusen did not wobble at any point."
Another journal describes the performance of the Werkself as a "successful afternoon of football." The Rheinische Post sees the goal from new signing Patrik Schick to make it 7-0 as the "icing on the cake" of this clash. Furthermore: "With the efficiency of the first half over the full 90 minutes, the game could have ended with a double-digit win." Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz received the best individual assessments.
According to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, the Werkself, playing against Norderstedt, "did not show any mercy for the fourth-tier visitors in the first 30 minutes." Bayer 04 have reached the next round "thanks to an impressive first half without any problems."
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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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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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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