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.
This year - for the third time - the parents of the Bayer 04 youth players from the U8 to U15 age groups once again took part in the WDR Christmas Miracle. Under the motto "Goals against hunger in the world - parents in goal!", they organised their own fundraising campaign to once again actively support the important WDR campaign. The sum of €3,420 was handed over at the Glashaus in Essen in the middle of the week during the live programme.
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The Leverkusen eSports players picked up just one point on Tuesday 16 December in the remaining three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. As a result, the #B04eSports team once again miss out on going through to the offline knockout phase and now head into the winter break.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has always stood for ambition, development, and progress. In recent years, these values have been reflected not only on the pitch, but beyond it. The Werkself continues to grow — regionally, nationally, and now more than ever internationally — and the recent visit from a delegation of our newest international fan club, Bayer4Arab, is a powerful example of this journey.
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Bayer 04 host FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal. The tie will be played on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, at the BayArena with the kick-off at 20:45 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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Today, Tuesday 16 December (live on B04eSports Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports players face the final three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In addition to 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and SV 07 Elversberg, they will play Fortuna Düsseldorf, who are still unbeaten in this third showdown. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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