Matchday one in the VBL CC started at 18.00 against Hamburg SV, last season's runners-up in the North West division. The match – as with all other fixtures this season, was decided in a best-of-three format. The 2 vs 2 game came first with Marc ‘MARC_LDW23’ Landwehr and Furkan ‘FURKY’ Kayacik on the controllers for Leverkusen against the Hamburg players Daniel ‘HSV_Daniel7’ Dwelk and Steffen ‘Funino’ Pöppe. The game ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Black and Reds.
It was advantage to HSV ahead of the second game although Landwehr was able to secure a 2-0 victory over Hamburg's Dwelk in the 1 vs 1 match. The decider came in the third game between Kayacik and Pöppe with the clash ending in a 2-0 defeat for Leverkusen. That meant HSV were the overall winners and they picked up their first three points of the season.
The second matchday against Holstein Kiel followed later in the evening. The Storks also suffered defeat in their first match against FC Hansa Rostock. The game between the Black and Reds and the Kiel side started with a 2 vs 2 encounter with Landwehr and Kayacik taking on the two Storks Colin ‘COOOLLIIIN’ Völter and Florian ‘IROYALDYNASTY’ Wilhelm. The 2 vs 2 game also ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Black and Reds.
To avoid an early overall defeat, a win was required in the following 1 vs 1 game – and that was provided by Landwehr against Kiel's Jeffrey ‘JEFFREY6TH’ Aninkorah. The Leverkusen players clocked up an emphatic 7-1 victory. The decider again came in the third match with Leverkusen's Mario ‘BULJI’ Lovrinovic taking on Kiel’s Völter in a 1 vs 1 game. After Lovrinovic initially went behind, the 19-year-old turned the game round to win 2-1 and thereby secure the first three points of the season for the #B04eSports team.
The Leverkusen team are fifth in the North West division after the first two matchdays. The #B04eSports team are next in action on Saturday 19 November on matchdays three and four: Leverkusen start at 15.30 CET against VfL Bochum and that is followed at 17.00 CET by the meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Results from matchdays 1 and 2:
Hamburg SV vs Bayer 04 (0 points)
Two vs two: 4-1
Dwelk against Landwehr: 0-2
Pöppe against Kayacik: 2-0
Bayer 04 vs Holstein Kiel (3 points)
Two vs two: 1-4
Landwehr against Aninkorah: 7-1
A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
Show more
The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
Show more
For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
Show more
European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
Show more
