Bayer Leverkusen forced to cancel pre-season clash in Jena – new date to be found
Bayer Leverkusen will not face Carl Zeiss Jena on 1 August 2026. The Bundesliga side’s friendly was called off on Monday (20 July 2026) by the Regionalliga club, with both parties agreeing to postpone and seek a new date soon. Leverkusen sit sixth in the table with zero points and zero goals scored so far this season.
Why Carl Zeiss Jena pulled the plug
Jena sporting director Miroslav Jovic said fixture congestion made it impossible to field a competitive XI. “We must be honest: with an away game in Babelsberg the day before and another in Stahnsdorf three days later, we cannot put a competitive team on the pitch,” he explained in a club statement. The East German side currently sits tenth in the Regionalliga Nordost after failing to win any of its opening three matches.
Leverkusen’s links with Jena run deep
The two clubs share a strong bond. Their last meeting came in August 2024 in the DFB-Pokal, when Leverkusen lifted the trophy as defending champions and league winners with a 1:0 victory. “Our relationship with Jena is excellent – and it will stay that way,” Jovic said. The friendly was meant to serve as pre-season preparation, but the calendar made it unworkable.
What’s next for Bayer Leverkusen?
Leverkusen now needs to lock in a new pre-season fixture. The side next plays Mainz 05 at home on 20 February 2027. Striker Eliesse Ben Seghir remains sidelined. Xabi Alonso’s team continues preparations for the Champions League campaign ahead, with European ties looming in the autumn.
