The U14s are still top of the table in the Youth Cup after a 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the home game against the team in second on the same points, the Werkself youngsters levelled with ten minutes to play for the final score of 1-1. The Black and Reds played with ten players for over 50 minutes after a red card on the half-hour mark and conceded the goal just after the sending off. “We fought our way back into the game with ten men. The draw was deserved,” summed up coach Mirko Casper.
Like the older year group, the Leverkusen U13s held on to top spot in the Youth Cup. The team under the coaching duo Benjamin Adam and Marco Walter won 5-2 at FC Köln – and have now gone six games without dropping a point.
The Werkself U12s were on the wrong end of a 7-0 scoreline away to Fortuna Düsseldorf. “Even though we were unable to impress in attack, our biggest problem was individually with the defenders,” said coach Pierre de Witt, who is sure after the performance of the Rhine rivals that Fortuna “will win other games” following their first victory of the season.
The Leverkusen U11s secured a runaway win against Fortuna Köln in a friendly. The final score in the second game on the 9-a-side pitch: 14:2.
The U10s also played in a friendly and they deservedly beat the VfB Hilden U11 team 7-2 in four 20-minute quarters. “We’re very happy with the performance,” said coach Alexander Nuss who works alongside Marvin Schmitz with the U10 squad. “We have made clear progress, above all in terms of our game, passing and decision making.”
The U9s had a friendly away to FC Hennef. “We were able to learn a lot from the game,” said coach Greuel who made a positive assessment of the start to the season: “We are happy with the squad and we think they in very good shape.”
FC Köln v Bayer 04 U19 5-0 (L)
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Bayer 04 U15 3-1 (F)
Bayer 04 U14 v Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-1 (L)
FC Köln v Bayer 04 U13 2-5 (L)
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Bayer 04 U12 7-0 (L)
Bayer 04 U11 v Fortuna Köln 14-2 (F)
Bayer 04 U10 v VfB Hilden U11 7-2 (F)
FC Hennef v Bayer 04 U9 o.E. (F)
Bayer 04 U8 v FC Pesch o.E. (F)
(L) = League | (F) = Friendly
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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