Thanks to the 4-1 away win at SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Bayer 04 now have 55 points from 31 league games – more than in the whole of last season with three games left to play (52). That campaign ended in sixth place in the table and qualification for the UEFA Europa League.
Currently in third spot, with a three-point lead over the team in fifth position, the Werkself need more points in the end of season run-in to achieve the target of qualifying for the Champions League. The remaining three opponents are Eintracht Frankfurt (2 May), TSG Hoffenheim (7 May) plus the finale against SC Freiburg (14 May).
An important milestone in the history of Bayer 04 was reached 36 years ago today: On 26 April 1986, the Werkself were away to Schalke in the final game of the season and were 2-0 down – not enough for sixth place and the first participation in the UEFA Cup. However, the team under coach Erich Ribbeck fought their way back into the game and earned a 2-2 draw. After the final whistle it was clear that Bayer 04 would take part in the UEFA Cup for the first time in the 1986/87 season.
The Werkself went out in the second round after two wins in the first round against the Swedish team Kalmar FF (4-1, 3-0): The games against the Czech side Dukla Prague ended goalless away and in a 1-1 draw at home.
The next season saw the massive achievement for the Werkself of winning the UEFA Cup on penalties against Espanyol..
The former Werkself player Werner Biskup would have been 80 years old on this Tuesday. The defender moved under the Bayer Cross at the age of 20 from his hometown of Bottrop in 1962. Biskup played for the Werkself for three years: first in the Oberliga West (30 games, three goals), then in the Regional League West (66 games, four goals). After moving on to Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Köln he finally ended up at RFC Liège in Belgium where he ended his playing career in 1975 and he became a coach. Biskup passed away in July 2014 at the age of 72. Rest in peace.
Bayer 04 host Augsburg at the BayArena this Saturday for Matchday 31 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game against the 10th-placed Bavarians, including the ‘Finally Red’ fan campaign.
Show moreThe first of the Werkself’s remaining 04 fixtures of this season comes on Saturday at home to Augsburg (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Ahead of the Matchday 31 encounter, head coach Xabi Alonso reflected on previous weeks, spoke about goals for the remainder of the campaign and also Jonathan Tah.
Show moreAugsburg have enjoyed an excellent run of form this year and come to the BayArena on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) full of confidence as they take on the Werkself. Jess Thorup’s team boast one of the meanest defences in the Bundesliga and harbour real hope of securing European qualification this season. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreBayer 04 Women won 3-1 away at Turbine Potsdam on Friday night to maintain their chances of finishing in the top three and qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Delice Boboy, Cornelia Kramer and Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir struck for the Werkself at the Google Pixel Bundesliga’s bottom club, whose relegation was confirmed with the result. Leverkusen’s 12th win of the campaign took them up to 40 points.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without defender Nordi Mukiele and the Argentinian striker Alejo Sarco for the time being. Both players suffered muscle injuries in yesterday's Werkself training session.
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