
The opening fixture on Tuesday 15 November (18.00 CET) is against Hamburg SV who finished second in the North West division last term. The opponents at 19.30 on matchday two are Holstein Kiel. The Saturday games on 19 November see the Leverkusen eSports players take on VfL Bochum (15.30 CET) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (17.00 CET).
Further exciting games follow at the beginning of December: On Sunday 4 December there is first the virtual derby against FC Köln from 15.30 CET and then the clash with last year's winners of the North West division, Hansa Rostock, from 17.00 CET. The Black and Reds then play the runners-up of the VBL Club Championship 2021/22 two days later: The fixture against FC St. Pauli is at 18.00 CET on St Nicolas Day.
The calendar year is rounded off with a treble matchday: Tuesday 20 December brings games against Schalke 04 (18.00 CET), Hertha Berlin (19.30 CET) and Werder Bremen (21.00 CET). The second half of the season starts in the New Year on Tuesday 10 January (18.00 CET) with the return match against HSV. The last match of the season is on Tuesday 28 February.
As usual, each fixture involves a best-of-three format, with two one-v-one games and one two-v-two match. The games are assessed individually according to three points for a win. At the end of the 30 matchdays, the top two teams in each division compete for the final round of the VBL Club Championship on 25 and 26 March 2023.
The teams finishing from third to sixth in each division meet on 7 and 8 March in the VBL Club Championship play-offs to determine the remaining four places in the finals. The German club champions are then determined by a knockout competition between the eight teams in the finals.
Marc ‘MARC_LDW23’ Landwehr and Furkan ‘FURKY’ Kayacik will go in search of virtual goals this term and the duo are joined by the new #B04eSports talent Mario ‘BULJI’ Lovrinovic. As with last year, the matches involving the Leverkusen eSports players will be broadcast live on the club’s Twitch channel.
Further information on the participating teams and the structure of the season for this year's VBL Club Championship plus the ensuing VBL Grand Final, where the German individual championship will be played, can be found HERE.

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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