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.
Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
Show more
It has been a long time since feeling what it’s like to come away empty-handed. The last – and so far only – defeat of the season, in Elversberg, was two months ago. Since then, Bayer 04 have followed that up with seven wins and a draw. Now it has happened again away to TSG Hoffenheim. As the match progressed, the Werkself grew in confidence and “could even have scored the opening goal”, as Robert Andrich said after the game. In the end, it was the side from Sinsheim who sealed a 3–0 victory after “hectic closing stages” (kicker). The Werkself review.
Show more
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
Show more
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-3 loss at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
Show more
