The stadium opens two hours before kick-off at 11.00 CET. At the same time, the Christmas market on the piazza in the West Stand at the BayArena will be open to anyone with a ticket for the friendly against FC Zürich. Tickets for the match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium include a free non-alcoholic drink. Further information on ticket sales can be found HERE.
Running order:
11.15 CET - Opening matches
12.15 CET - Warm-up routine for pro teams
12.30 CET - Premium Lounge opens with games for children and families
12.45 CET - Management message to fans
13.00 CET - Friendly against FC Zürich kicks off
13.45 CET - Tribute to 26 fan clubs during half-time
14.45 CET - Full-time in friendly against FC Zürich
Bayer 04 fans can enjoy a varied programme after the friendly against FC Zürich as well. There are free stadium tours for ticket holders from 16.00 CET starting at the VIP entrance in the West Stand at the BayArena. The tour includes being pitch side on the way to the Mixed Zone and the dressing room area at the BayArena. One special highlight: Bayer 04 fans can also board the Werkself team bus during the tours.
Also at 16.00 CET, there is a 90-minute autograph session in conference rooms two and three in the West Stand at the BayArena. Beginning at the same time is an exclusive press conference for members of the Bayer 04 Club with head coach Xabi Alonso and Werkself stalwart Karim Bellarabi in the press conference room at the BayArena. At 16.45 CET there will be a 90-minute exclusive press conference for members of the Löwenclub and Teens Club also in the press conference room.
The action packed day is rounded off by carol singing on the piazza at the West Stand at the BayArena from 17.45 CET. The event ends at 18.30 CET.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.
Show more
Two months of preparation, five friendlies and the return of a familiar training camp location: After finishing fifth in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga last season, the Werkself will return to training on Tuesday, 23 June. Bayer04.de outlines the key dates in the 2026 summer timetable.
Show more
With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
Show more
