The Special Champions League is promoted by EFDN (European Football Development Network) and the European Union (EU) and thereby represents an international extension to the ‘Einfach Fußball’ activities at Bayer 04 that have been running for years.
Bayer 04 have worked alongside partners on the Einfach Fußball programme initiated by Bayer AG since 2010. This has given young people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to be regularly involved in their favourite hobby of football at over 20 locations throughout Germany. This also includes inclusive tournament formats: The ‘Einfach Fußball’ tournaments, held indoors and outdoors twice a year in Leverkusen, have been a great success with over 500 participants taking part - and now it moves on to the European stage.
The EU initiative will be staged in the form of five international tournaments with different hosts. The first tournament is in the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Wednesday 8 February. Leverkusen are joined by Werder Bremen as German representatives. Also involved are: Fundação Benfica and Special Olympics from Portugal, Fundación Alcoraz and Fundación Levante from Spain, NEC Nijmegen and Only Friends (Ajax) from the Netherlands, Foundation 92 and Everton in the Community from the UK, KAS Eupen from Belgium plus Juventus for Special from Italy.
Bayer 04 will welcome the other teams to Leverkusen on 7 June of this year.
The Nerazzurri are in town: Today, Tuesday 10 December, Bayer 04 entertain the reigning champions of Italy Inter Milan on Matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21.00 CET/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). Read on for the latest information on the home game at the BayArena.
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The Bayer 04 U19 team lost 1-0 to Inter Milan on the sixth and final matchday in the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2024/25. The only goal of the game was scored just after the hour mark. While the side from North Italy have finished top in the league phase with a maximum points return, the Leverkusen team appeared to have just missed out on the knockout stages of the European competition. There is faint hope looking to several games to follow where results are needed to go the way of the Werkself.
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Italian teams are known for being strong in defence. The fact that Inter Milan, the next opponents for the Werkself in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, 10 December (kick-off: 20.45 CET), have not conceded a single goal in their last five matches is impressive. Will the visitors' keeper Yann Sommer be able to keep a clean sheet at the BayArena against Florian Wirtz and Co.? The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Werkself are away to Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga Matchday 16. The game at the Signal Iduna Park on Friday, 10 January 2025, kicks off at 20.30 CET. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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