The background to the excursion to North Spain is the community commitment of Real Sociedad, Bayer 04 as well as Bayer AG in aid of the Fundación Columbus.
The foundation was set up to raise funds for research into rare diseases and to make them treatable through gene therapy. The friendly at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián is specifically aimed at the battle against spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG 50). This extremely rare neuromuscular disease affects a very limited number of children and symptoms range from general developmental delay, medium to serious mental disability, changed or loss of speech, microcephaly or reduced skull size, cramps and advanced motor function impairment. Gate receipts from the match will go to the foundation.
And Bayer AG, together with their subsidiaries AskBio and Viralgen involved in treating SPG 50 as part of a study project in San Sebastian, is supporting the Columbus campaign and has been involved in planning the special match from the start. "For us as part of Bayer AG the good cause this friendly is supporting offers a very good reason to travel to the training camp and join in working together," said Fernando Carro as chairman of the board at Bayer 04. Of course, Xabi Alonso is not just enthusiastic due to the venue of San Sebastián but also due to the campaign: "Health is the most important thing for us all but primarily for our children," said the Bayer 04 head coach. "We are happy to get involved if we can help people who are not in that fortunate situation, even to a small extent."
"Score a goal against SPG 50!" is the motto for the game between Real Sociedad and Bayer 04, which also gives both clubs the opportunity to assess where they are in terms of football. "An opponent of such European class offers us the ability to see where we are up to at that phase in the preseason," said Bayer 04 sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. "The fact we can also live up to our social responsibility makes this football match a great event we can already look forward to."
The event will not only benefit the Columbus foundation but also the Asociación Guipuzcoana contra el cáncer. The organisation is committed to the battle against cancer with part of the funds raised from a friendly going to finance a holiday camp in the Basque country for children suffering from cancer.
A new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
Show moreBosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
Show morePreparations for the 2025/26 season at Bayer 04 start next Monday, 7 July, with the first team and youth players training together. Without the international players who were involved with their national teams at the end of last season, new head coach Erik ten Hag will welcome a group of senior and youth players to the first open training session one week ahead of the departure to the training camp in Rio de Janeiro. After the official welcome in the dressing room, the Werkself players will start the session in the shadow of the BayArena on 7 July at 14:00 CEST.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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