
The former goalkeeper Andrés Palop, in the Werkself squad in 2013/14, helped draw out the clubs. The first leg will be played on 10 March and the return match is a week later on 17 March. Bayer 04 are away first.
Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, commented on the draw: "Atalanta are a good opponent, it's always difficult to play against Italian teams." However, the 57-year-old is confident. Carro continued: "I'm optimistic we will successfully master this hurdle and put ourselves in a good position in the first leg away from home."
Sporting director Simon Rolfes added: "Atalanta are one of the best teams in Italy and have developed really well in recent years. They like to get forward and they score lots of goals. For me, this tie is one of the top matches in this round." The future Leverkusen sporting managing director set out the target: "Our aim is to go through. We are at home in the second leg and I'm hoping we can fill the stadium by that time."
Away tickets for the first leg of the Round of 16 in Bergamo (10 March) go on sale on Monday 7 March. Tickets for the second leg at the BayArena (17 March) are available from Tuesday 8 March.
Round of 16:
Rangers vs Red Star Belgrade
Sporting Braga vs AS Monaco
FC Porto vs Lyon
Atalanta vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen
FC Sevilla vs West Ham United
FC Barcelona vs Galatasaray
RB Leipzig vs Spartak Moscow
Real Betis vs Eintracht Frankfurt

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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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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