The club is thereby raising attention for an important issue. Every year on 17 November the focus is on premature births and associated implications. 60,000 children are preterm in Germany. That means every tenth child is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature babies are the biggest child patient group in Germany. Even though chances of survival are good these days due to medical progress, many families are still confronted with this issue.
The idea of lighting up individual buildings (Purple for Preemies) originally comes from the American organisation March of Dimes and it is growing in popularity. In addition to the BayArena, other buildings to be bathed in purple include the Empire State Building in New York, the castle in Heidelberg and the Bettenhochhaus ward tower block at the Charité hospital in Berlin.
The Klinikum Leverkusen hospital is also centre stage on World Prematurity Day. Former patients and their parents have been invited to the hospital grounds to meet up for a lantern procession under the motto of 'Purple for Preemies – Lila für Frühchen'. Players from the Bayer 04 Women's team will also be at the procession to raise awareness of the issue.
Klinikum Leverkusen is the main centre for the care of premature babies for the other hospitals and clinics in the city as well as in the Bergisches Land. With around 1,600 births per year it is one of the most experienced maternity hospitals in the region. 345 premature babies were treated there last year. Given the particularly high quality of care, the smallest preterm babies with a birthweight of 500 grammes or less survive. Bayer 04 has been involved in a partnership with the hospital for many years.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed 16-year-old midfield prospect Gabriel Minutillo on a long-term contract. The Germany youth international will play for the U19s this season.
Show more
Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
Show more
Like last year, Bayer 04 Women held their summer training camp in Rieden. Coach Roberto Pätzold gives his assessment of the time in the Upper Palatinate, discusses the integration of the 11 new players and the unusual team building measures, gives his thoughts on the friendly and looks ahead to the start of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga season in August.
Show more
Just in time for the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Werkself will hold another open training session on Tuesday 21 July. The session at the BayArena is scheduled to start at 11:00 CEST and will again be available to watch in a live stream. The fans who are there can look forward to a very special surprise.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women rounded off their one-week training camp in the Upper Palatinate with their second friendly win of pre-season. Coach Roberto Pätzold's side beat Czech top-flight outfit Slovan Liberec 6-0 in a match consisting of 4 x 30 minutes. Maja Sternad (8'), Caroline Kehrer (55'), Natasha Kowalski (67', 84') with two direct free kicks, Valentina Mädl (97') and Justine Brandau (107') scored the goals for Leverkusen at 1.FC Rieden's Fenstertechnik-Weinfurtner-Arena.
Show more
