
The DFB have appointed Tobias Reichel as the referee at the Sportpark Ronhof. The 36-year-old has previously taken charge of two Werkself fixtures this season, the 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on the opening weekend and also the reverse fixture as Leverkusen recorded their highest home win in Bundesliga history by beating Fürth 7-1 at the BayArena in December.
Reichel’s assistants are Benedikt Kempkes and Sascha Thielert. Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck is the VAR.
For everyone who can’t be cheering on the team from Fürth today, they can tune into the Werkself Radio as usual. It’s available on bayer04.de and in the new Bayer 04 app.
The Bayer 04 fan support has all you need to know on the game at the Sportpark Ronhof. Blocks O (standing) and P (seated) are the areas for away fans and can only be reached via Flurstraße. They cannot be reached from Laubenweg. More info HERE.
If today’s hosts fail to win, their relegation from the Bundesliga will be confirmed. Fürth are currently bottom on 17 points, 11 off the play-off place with four games to go. Greuther may have conceded by far the most goals in the division, but Stefan Leitl’s side have also kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches.
Bayer 04’s 1993 DFB Cup winner Franco Foda turns 56 today. He had moved to Leverkusen from Kaiserslautern three years earlier, going on to make 113 Bundesliga appearances for the Werkself (10 goals, six assists). He was head coach of the Austria national team until recently. Happy birthday!

Newcastle United have amassed nine points after five matchdays, one more in the UEFA Champions League than the Werkself. The Magpies are also steadily improving in the Premier League, where they're currently unbeaten in four games. On Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Eddie Howe's side will be the visitors at the BayArena. He's also likely to field two Germany internationals in the game. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
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