Manuel Hartmann, managing director of match operations at DFB GmbH & Co. KG, presented the trophy to Michael Meuthen from the Bayer 04 groundsmen at the 16th information meeting for groundsmen in Leipzig on Monday. Borussia Dortmund’s reserves were also honoured for the playing surface at the Rote Erde stadium in the men's 3. Liga.
“The Bayer 04 Leverkusen groundsmen did another great job, with a score of 9.03 out of a possible 10 speaking for itself. It’s a special achievement to be honoured for the fifth year in a row,” said Hartmann. “We hope that clubs will continue to strive for outstanding pitch quality in order to create the best possible conditions for attractive matches.”
After each league match, the team managers of the home and visiting clubs and the referees are asked to use the ‘Greenkeeping Tool’ to rate the quality of the pitch using a 10-point system. An overall Bundesliga table is compiled from the individual ratings. Last year, Bayer 04 won Pitch of the Year in the men's competition for the second time in a row for the turf in the BayArena, the third award for head groundsman Georg Schmitz and his team. This year, the Leverkusen pitch came second behind Leipzig's Red Bull Arena.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
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Alejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
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Second game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
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In the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
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Bayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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