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.
The Bayer 04 women’s team secured a win in the friendly during the international break. Without a total of eight international players, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team defeated Bundesliga 2 side Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 at the Kurtekotten Training Centre, thanks to goals from Lobke Loonen (1’, penalty), Caroline Kehrer (41') and Valentina Mädl (66').
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without striker Christian Kofane in the coming weeks. The 20-year-old sustained a muscle injury to his left thigh on international duty with the Cameroon national team during the recent international break. This will prevent him from playing in the upcoming Werkself matches.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fans ask, Carolin Simon answers: As part of Bayer 04’s second Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit, the Leverkusen captain took questions from the community. The full-back, who returned to the club this summer after ten years away, set aside an hour and a half for the Q&A session with fans, offering a very personal insight into, amongst other things, her daily life as a footballer and her role as captain, as well as her passion for Pokémon.
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