Over 40s cup: Veterans go through with 4-0 win
Successful restart for the Leverkusen Veterans team. The first match for the legends after a six-month break due to Covid-19 produced a 4-0 win away to SG Hoppstädten-Weiersbach.
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.”
Veterans bearing gifts
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.
Next round in Southern Hesse
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.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 13.01.2026
Tapsoba sidelined by muscle injury
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
Werkself-TV - 12.01.2026
Hjulmand ahead of #HSVB04: ‘Don't panic, stay calm and optimistic’
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
Women - 11.01.2026
Algarve sunshine instead of sub-zero temperatures: Bayer 04 Women start winter training camp
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
Bundesliga - 11.01.2026
Werkself review #B04VfB: Honest words and looking ahead
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
