
“All in all, the performance was good for the opening fixture,” said the coach Jan Hoepner after the home win on Saturday. In a well-organsied display in first half, the U17s controlled the game against Bielefeld with three of the five new signings in the starting line-up and they created plenty of chances before opening the scoring.
Cem-Tuna Türkmen missed out unmarked in front of the opposition goal and Fabian Rüth also failed to find the back of the Bielefeld net with a header from a promising position. New signing Wolf was on target just before the break. He hit a free kick from the right towards the far post. The ball bounced once before going in to give the Werkself a deserved 1-0 lead.
Decider from a corner
The U17s had more of the game in the second half too, “but there weren’t so may clear-cut chances,” admitted the coach Patrick Weiser. The hosts did succeed in settling the result with time to spare.
A corner from Wolf was only half cleared by the visitors. Fesenmeyer, in the right spot on the edge of the box, trapped the ball before unleashing his effort on goal with the Bielefeld keeper was left helpless by a deflection.
Wednesday at Schalke 04
After the successful start to the season the U17s are in action again on Wednesday in the big match away to Schalke 04. The Royal Blues youngsters won their opening fixture 2-1 at VfL Bochum.
Match stats:
Bayer 04 U17: Lotka - Rüth, Türkmen (Gierseifer 50’), Azhil, Wolf, Kemper, Bukusu, Anapak, Scott (Determann 71’), Gädicke (Ekene 71’), Fesenmeyer (Hortian 78’).
Arminia Bielefeld U17: Mönig - Mika, Tchadjobo (Aydin 78’), Haßheider, Stoll, Klass, Dogan (Ben El Ouahmi 41’), Donsbruch, Kalac (Temin 64’), Ayyildiz, Borchert (Bairamov 41’).
Goals: 1-0 Wolf (39’), 2-0 Fesenmeyer (59.’.
Booked: Wolf- /.
Referee: Aarts (Goch).
Attendance: 261.

A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
Show more
The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
Show more
For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
Show more
European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
Show more