Bundesliga
Leverkusen set for Havertz reunion in Arsenal friendly
Bayer Leverkusen have added a friendly match against English Premier League outfit Arsenal and ex-Werkself man Kai Havertz to their 2024/25 pre-season schedule.
Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga and DFB Cup holders will face the 2023/24 English Premier League runners-up at the Emirates Stadium in London on 7 August (kick-off: 7pm CEST).
It promises to be a special occasion for Havertz, who made his senior breakthrough with Leverkusen as a teenager during the 2016/17 season. He went on to play 150 times for Die Werkself in all competitions, before moving to Chelsea in summer 2020, and Arsenal three years later. The 25-year-old forward is currently spearheading host nation Germany's attack at UEFA Euro 2024.
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As well as Arsenal, Leverkusen also have friendlies against Rot-Weiss Essen (26 July) and Lens (3 August) pencilled in. They will host VfB Stuttgart in the Supercup on 17 August, before beginning their Bundesliga and DFB Cup defence later that month.
Fourth-tier side Carl Zeiss Jena provide the opposition in the DFB Cup on 28 August, five days after Bayer are slated to kick off the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign. Their opening-night opponents will be revealed on 4 July, when the full fixture schedule is released.