The session on Tuesday afternoon turned out to be an extraordinary one for the nearly 50 children, all wearing full Bayer 04 kit. To start with, the Bundesliga duo patiently answered all their questions. From classic children’s questions such as “Messi or Ronaldo?” to “Who’s your favourite player?”, the young footballers posed all sorts of questions to Bender and Ostermeier.
The training session then got underway across four pitches – with the two players right in the thick of it. Centre-back Ostermeier and forward Bender took an active part at times, while at other times guiding the children and young people born between 2013 and 2020 through the drills. In between, there was plenty of time for photos and autographs for the delighted participants at the autumn camp.
Under the guidance of five coaches, the children will be taking part in two sessions a day at the Liga 20 indoor football centre until Friday in the autumn half-term. As well as a visit from the Bayer 04 players, a tour of the BayArena is another highlight of the camp.
A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.
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The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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