The San Jose Clash will host Bayer Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga May 26 at 4:00 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
The match will be the first of three planned internationals to be hosted by the MLS franchise.
“We are proud to say that our first international game will be against an opponent with a world-wide reputation for playing quality soccer,” said Clash GM Peter Bridgewater. “Bayer Leverkusen has the same kind of proud tradition that the Clash hopes to build in San Jose.”
Leverkusen, UEFA Cup champion in 1988, features German World Cup Star Rudi Voeller, as well as erstwhile East German star Ulf Kirsten and U.S. national team midfielder Claudio Reyna. Romanian World Cup veteran Ian Lupescu and Brazilians Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo also play for the Bundesliga’s leading defensive side.
“Playing an oppponent like Bayer Leverkusen will be a tremendous challenge for a first-year team, but it’s an exciting challenge and one our players are very much looking forward to,” said Clash coach Laurie Calloway. “Right away, it enhances our reputation as a club that is serious about playing high quality soccer, and it’s a tremendous matchup for our fans.”
OTHER MLS NEWS:
The Los Angeles Galaxy will face the Canadian Olympic Team in an exhibtion match April 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the Rose Bowl… Mexican star Jorge Campos, whose Atlante team failed to reach the Mexican first division playoffs, is due to arrive in L.A. April 10…