The second round DFB Cup tie between the Werkself Women's team and the newly promoted side from Bundesliga 2 North, to be played between 25 and 27 September, will be the first meeting of the two clubs – and will also bring a reunion with two former Leverkusen players: Frederike Kempe and Gianna Rackow left the club in the summer to head east.
Leipzig came through the first round with a 10-0 victory against ATS Buntentor from the Regional League North. Bayer 04 are only now in the competition as one of the ten best-placed teams in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga as they each received a bye.
The first two rounds of the cup are played in regional groups. The allocation of the qualified teams these groups is made by the DFB Committee for Women's and Girls’ football according to geographic criteria.
Northern Group:
SV Meppen (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs SGS Essen (Women's Bundesliga)
RB Leipzig (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs Bayer 04 (Women's Bundesliga)
Borussia Bocholt (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs SV Werder Bremen (Women's Bundesliga)
MSV Duisburg (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs VfL Wolfsburg (Women's Bundesliga)
DSC Arminia Bielefeld (Regional League West) vs FC Köln (Women's Bundesliga)
Hannover 96 (Regional League North) vs FFC Turbine Potsdam (Women's Bundesliga)
FSV Babelsberg 74 (Regional League North-East) vs Sportfreunde Siegen (Regional League West)
Hamburger SV (Regional League North) vs FSV Gütersloh (Women's Bundesliga 2)
Rostocker FC (Regional League North-East) vs SV Henstedt-Ulzburg (Women's Bundesliga 2)
Southern Group:
Hegauer FV (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg/Division 4) vs FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Women's Bundesliga)
SV Elversberg (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs FC Bayern München (Women's Bundesliga)
SG 99 Andernach (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs SC Sand (Women's Bundesliga)
FC Würzburger Kickers (Regional League South) vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Women's Bundesliga)
FC Nürnberg (Women's Bundesliga 2) vs SG Eintracht Frankfurt (Women's Bundesliga)
SpVgg Germania Ebing (North Bavaria State League/Division 5) vs SC Freiburg (Women's Bundesliga)
Wormatia Worms (Regional League South-West) vs Karlsruher SC (Regional League South)
In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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Following the summer break, most of the players are back in Leverkusen. While two Bayer 04 first-team players are still in action at the World Cup, the players present officially kicked off the new season with fitness assessments. At the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehabilitation and training centre, Robert Andrich, Edmond Tapsoba and the rest of the squad worked up quite a sweat in the sweltering summer heat. New signings Afonso Moreira and Kennet Eichhorn also successfully completed the day’s sessions alongside their new team-mates.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.
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