Six teams compete at the Western German finals for two places in the national Over 40s tournament to be held in the capital next year. Bayer 04, as the Middle Rhine champions, are joined by runners-up FC Hennef plus Arminia Bielefeld, VfB Salzkotten, VfB Speldorf and SF Niederwenigern in Duisburg. "They may not be the biggest names in football but will definitely prove to be very tough opponents," said Bayer 04 manager Dirk Dreher. The games, lasting 20 minutes, are played on a small pitch with rolling substitutions with each team having five outfield players plus a goalkeeper from a 12-man squad.
"There are one or two question marks in our squad but we’ll definitely field a very strong team determined to get to Berlin," said Dreher. Mike Rietpietsch, Thorsten Judt, Markus Happe and Marcus Feinbier have already confirmed, as has goalkeeper Daniel Galic, plus Carsten Baumann, Marc Bach, Zülfi Simsek and Christoph Chylla who are also in the Bayer 04 squad.
The Veterans have warmed up for the U40 showdown in Duisburg with two games in the local area. There was a hard-fought 6-4 win against a younger team from Eschweiler with goals from Marcus Feinbier (3). Hans-Peter Lehnhoff (2) and Marcel Podszus. While the hosts had no player over the age of 33, the 36-year-old Bayer 04 honorary skipper Simon Rolfes was the youngest member of the Werkself team that also included Erik Meijer (see photo above). Bayer 04 then went on to lose 5-3 in Zülpich against a team from Düren and Euskirchen. Feinbier (2) and Marko Schröder scored for Leverkusen.
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.
Show moreThe 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.
Show moreItalian 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.
Show moreThe 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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