
Saturday afternoon, home game at the BayArena. VfB Stuttgart are the visitors on matchday 20. The latest info on the clash, facts and stats on #B04VFB plus other Black and Red news about Bayer 04 to get in the mood for the afternoon of football. There is also an interview with Wendell. “After recent results, we should all be aware of what it’s about on Saturday. It doesn’t matter at all who we’re playing against,” said our number 18.
HERE is the e-paper.
Sven Jablonski is in charge of today’s game between the Werkself and VfB Stuttgart. The 30-year-old referee from Bremen has already officiated one game involving the Black and Reds this season: the 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg on the first matchday. The assistant referees are Christian Gittelmann and Rafael and Christof Günsch. Felix Zwayer and Thomas Gorniak are the VAR officials at the studio in Cologne.
Your vote counts! Nadiem Amiri’s opener on ten minutes in the Bundesliga away game at Eintracht Frankfurt (1-2) on 2 January is included in the vote for the January Goal of the Month on the ARD Sportschau programme. Florian Wirtz produced a delicate chip to Amiri in the middle and he beat Frankfurt’s Durm before scoring with a back-heel. The goal for the Werkself was not enough to ensure victory but it was still a tremendous finish.
Click HERE to cast your vote.

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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