
This year again promises very special highlights for all participants at the Simply Football (Einfach Fußball) benefit tournament for four special schools at the Ostermann Arena (formerly Smidt Arena) in Leverkusen. You can look forward to lots of play and fun as there will be a bouncy castle as well as an autograph session with our Bayer 04 pros. And our Bayer 04 mascot Brian the Lion will also be there to ensure a good mood. There is also a goal wall and big tombola where you can win great Bayer 04 prizes.
Simply football is a joint project between Bayer AG and Bayer 04 Leverkusen that is designed to help children and teenagers with mental, physical or learning difficulties have access to club football. Up to now over 20 agreements have been made between clubs in special schools.
Profits from the tournament will go to the Friends of Hugo Kükelhaus School and Friends of the Martin Buber School.
Participants include FK Austria Vienna, Werder Bremen and Simply Football teams with children and teenagers with mental disability. And, for the first time, our Lions Club will field their own team to play at this years benefit tournament special schools. Entrance is free. So come on down on 5 March between 10.00 and 16.00 CET to support the teams.


Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss against VfL Wolfsburg on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Bayer 04’s eight opponents in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League have been confirmed. At the draw on Friday 28 August held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the Werkself were drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots. There are a total of four home and four away matches. Read on for details of opponents and fixture dates.
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In the 3-2 defeat at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg, the Werkself found the back of the net in the closing stages and, with a bit of luck, could still have equalised. “Today, our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” said head coach Carles Martínez. Like the boss, Ibrahim Maza also wants to learn from the match and look ahead: “Next week, people should be able to see from the very first minute that we want it more than our opponents.” The Werkself review on the Bundesliga opener in 2026/27.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-3 loss at SV 07 Elversberg on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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No points to start the league campaign: Bayer 04 lost 3-2 away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg in the first Bundesliga match of the 2026/27 campaign. Two quick-fire goals from Lukas Petkov (8’) and Cole Campbell (10’) gave the hosts an early lead, before David Mokwa scored the Saarland side’s third shortly after half-time (46’). In the closing stages, the Werkself rallied and staged a late comeback with goals from Patrik Schick (77’) and Christian Kofane (90+1’), but the Black and Reds were denied an equaliser.
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