
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.

Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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