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)
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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