The venue, where coach Heiko Herrlich will hold soon his press conferences before and after Bundesliga matches, was a hive of activity on Thursday afternoon. Around 60 children were in the media centre at the BayArena waiting for their Werkself star to appear on the top table. When the newly crowned U21 European Champion Dominik Kohr entered the room his name was announced as is usual for home games at the BayArena.
The youngsters then had the opportunity to pose a whole range of questions. The kids wanted to know from the 23-year-old who his best friend is in the team, what he most like doing in his own time, who his favourite opponents are, where favourite stadiums are, what his dog's called, what was his first football club, what he thinks of women's football and what size shoe he takes. The Werkself number 21 answered the questions with humour and charm.
After a question and answer session lasting 90 minutes, Dominik Kohr, who returned to Bayer 04 this summer after two years on loan at FC Augsburg, took time out to sign autographs. The event ended with a communal photo.
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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