Nobody wants to get used to it. After almost eleven months without spectators at the BayArena – apart from 6,000 at the game against RB Leipzig – it’s still painful to see empty stands. Although Werkself fans cannot be physically present they are there in spirit. And that is evident from a massive support banner in the East Stand.
Several months in the open air and the winter weather of recent weeks have made their mark. Therefore, the club management decided to replace the banner and include top sponsors in the new one. That happened in the run-up to home game against VfL Wolfsburg. The message remains the same: ‘We for you – you for us!’ That applies to the fans and partners of the Werkself.
Under the maxim of ‘Your support for the Werkself’, all fans of the Black and Reds were asked in the spring of 2020 to send in photos for the banner and thereby, in spite of games behind closed doors, bring a little Black and Red feeling and support for the Werkself into people’s homes. Around 3,500 fans followed the call and took part.
Latest info before the match, facts on #B04WOB and other Black and Red news to get fans in the mood for the game. Also, new signing Timothy Fosu-Mensah talks about his first days under the Bayer Cross, his communication with the team from the Netherlands plus English and his playing style. “The team like playing with the ball and having lots of possession. That suits me and I’m happy about that,” said the 23-year-old.
HERE is the digital matchday magazine.
Referee Marco Fritz is in charge of the Werkself game against the Wolves on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 15.30 CET). For Bayer 04, it will be match number 18 officiated by the 43-year-old banker from Korb in Baden-Württemberg. The Werkself have won eleven times, three games ended in draws and there have been four defeats. The assistants on the touchlines are Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim. The fourth official is Thorben Siewer and the VAR duo are Markus Schmidt and Christian Leicher.
Two former Bayer 04 players celebrate their birthdays today. Thomas Brdaric, at the Werkself from 1999 to 2003 including loan spells, is 46. At the start of the season he took over the helm as coach at Albanian top-flight club KF Vllaznia. Also one year older, at the age of 69, is the former Bayer 04 head coach Reinhard Saftig. Saftig was in the dugout at Bayer 04 for 77 games and he led the Werkself to the DFB Cup final in 1993. Bayer 04 wish both a very Happy Birthday.
Once again, well over 100 Werkself fans were delighted to receive an invitation from the club’s record appearance-maker, Rüdiger Vollborn, to the sold-out Schwadbud at the BayArena. This time, the supporters listened as the club historian provided fascinating, exclusive insights into the period from Bayer 04 being founded in 1904 to the club’s promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979. A journey through time is also planned for the upcoming ‘Rudi lädt ein’ event in early November – this time focusing on the years of the Nazi regime.
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Happy children’s faces at the SSV Lützenkirchen training ground: For the 25th time, the Birkenberg soccer school – organised by SportBund Leverkusen – offered participating youngsters an exciting holiday activity. Meeting a Bayer 04 player has now become a cherished tradition. This time, Ibrahim Maza visited the 150 children and spoke to them about his World Cup experiences, amongst other things. “It’s always lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm for football,” said the 20-year-old, after bringing a sparkle to many eyes with selfies and autographs.
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One day after the successful DFB Pokal first round tie at SV Wehen Wiesbaden (4–0), the mood was understandably really good: Over 400 Bayer 04 supporters gathered on Sunday, 23 August, for the annual fan club meet-up at the BayArena and got in the mood for the new season through direct and informal discussions with Bayer 04 management, head coach Carles Martínez and Werkself players.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-0 win at RB Leipzig on the 1st matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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