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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme on day one (Sunday 2 August) includes a media round with managing director sport Simon Rolfes, free time for the team after the friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen and before an intensive week of training begins, as well as a coffee get-together where CEO Fernando Carro and Rolfes met around 100 fans in the afternoon.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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