
The Over 40s cup was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. All the clubs left in the competition said they wanted to complete the cup by the end of the year with due regard to all hygiene and safety measures.
The Vets team headed off to the Palatinate with a 14-man squad – and they made a perfect start with an early opener scored by Frank Döpper from a Thorsten Judt corner (17’.). The same combination struck on 45 minutes: Döpper headed home a Judt cross.
Judt then settled the result of the cup tie himself in the game played over two 35-minute halves: The former player made it 3-0 with a fine curler with the outside of his foot from 16 yards out (63’) and Judt set up Roman Klossek four minutes later to score the fourth and final goal in front of 250 spectators. “It was a deserved win overall,” said team manager Dirk Dreher. “We were particularly happy with the very friendly reception from the hosts.”
On a positive note: The money generated from the spectators and a tombola was made available to support five-year-old Henry. The boy is seriously ill and the financial aid will help his care. The Bayer 04 Veterans brought a shirt signed by Jonathan Tah and Charles Aránguiz with them for the tombola. Henry was also presented with a current shirt with his name and age on it.
In the next round of the Over 40s cup, Bayer 04 are away to VfR Fehlheim in Southern Hesse. The match is due to be played in October. The date will be announced on bayer04.de.

The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
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