A total of 16 teams took part in this year's football tournament, including the inclusion teams from Bayer 04, TSV 1860 Munich and other well-known clubs. The ‘Simply Football’ Cup is organised every year by the works club - with the active support of many of the players' parents. Once again, the focus was on the participants having fun. Beaming faces could be seen everywhere in the Ostermann Arena. For six hours, the participants played against each other in front of an impressive and cheerful crowd. In addition to the fun had by the participants, the aim of the ‘Simply Football’ programme is the long-term participation of people with disabilities in club football and inclusion in organised sport.
Another highlight for many participants and spectators was the visit from Melissa Friedrich and Ida Daedelow. After a short discussion, the two Bayer 04 Women players signed numerous autographs and took time for lots of photos with their fans. "It's just nice to see that everyone is having fun. The result doesn't matter to the participants and they enjoy the moment," said centre-back Friedrich, summing up her impressions. Daedelow, 17, came to a similar conclusion: "The participants had a great day and a lot of fun. It's impressive how welcoming the people are. I would come here again and again and I think that everyone learnt a lot from each other." Brian the Lion also made an appearance at the autograph session and fulfilled the wishes of those in attendance.
Away from the pitch, there was also a shot power test and a scavenger hunt, where the participants enthusiastically and curiously tried to solve little puzzles. The proceeds from the sale of food and drinks throughout the event went to the Bayer 04 inclusion team.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
Show more
The Werkself are away to Hamburg SV at the end of the Hinrunde in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The match at the newly promoted club is on Tuesday night, 13 January (kick-off: 20:30 CET). Ahead of the first encounter with HSV since 2018, Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the strengths of the opponents, lessons learnt from the home defeat against VfB Stuttgart and provided a squad update.
Show more
In Germany, the temperatures are currently around zero, leaving even professional footballers freezing - but not the Bayer 04 Women. Roberto Pätzold's team have fled the cold to the south and are preparing for the second half of the season at a training camp in the Algarve, almost 2,000 kilometres away from home as the crow flies. The Leverkusen squad landed in Faro on Saturday morning and have already completed the first three training sessions over the weekend.
Show more
It was a disappointing Saturday night. The Werkself lost 4-1 to VfB Stuttgart to start the new year on Bundesliga matchday 16 in 2025/26, a result that left both players and fans disappointed. "We played without any passion," said Alejandro Grimaldo honestly afterwards. Teammate Jarell Quansah was even more self-critical, emphasising: "We were miles off it in the first half. You can't put in a performance like that, especially in front of our own fans and I can only apologise to them, to be honest." Read on for the reaction, facts and stats from the clash with VfB Stuttgart in the Werkself review.
Show more
