The news was a bombshell: Overnight from Sunday to Monday, twelve top European clubs officially announced their intention to form a so-called ‘Super League’. The clubs from England, Italy and Spain are intending to run the competition on weekdays. At the weekend they want to continue to play in their national leagues.
Immediately after the announcement, numerous clubs and officials from across Europe criticised this project. FIFA and UEFA are also against the introduction of a Super League. Leverkusen's sporting managing director Rudi Völler did not mince his words. The 61-year-old said to the Bild newspaper: “A closed shop is a crime against football. Anybody who wants to play in this league should be thrown out of all national leagues. With all their teams. The youth teams, the women's teams – all of them have to go!" Völler said in relation to the two possible Super League participants from Germany: "The fact Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are not joining in shows they've got a backbone."
Better news from the Werkself camp – and what news it was. The 3-0 derby win in the home game against FC Köln unleashed great emotion amongst Werkself players, coaches, officials, staff and fans. Bayer 04 won both games against FC Köln in a season for the first time since 2008/09.
The target for the 66th Bundesliga meeting with the team from Cologne was clearly expressed by the Werkself head coach Hannes Wolf at the pre-match press conference on Friday: "It's about the next derby win!" Said and done!
Leon Bailey opened the scoring early on at the BayArena (5'), Moussa Diaby (51’) and the Jamaican again (76’) secured the final score of 3-0 in the second half. Over the course of the second 45 minutes, with the Werkself already on course for victory in the derby, chants from the fans could be heard at the BayArena. Around 80 Black and Red supporters gathered on Bismarckstraße. Maintaining social distance and wearing masks, they cheered and sang for the 26th derby win in the top-flight.
After the final whistle, Charles Aránguiz and Co. thanked the fans: The Werkself assembled on the pitch in front of the East Stand and applauded loudly. A successful partnership between team and supporters adhering to the rules and restrictions due to the pandemic – and a great end to a successful derby Saturday.
For the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, two-goal Leon Bailey was the 'Man of the Match' and the 'Best Player on the Pitch'. His performance earned the Jamaican top marks and the same assessment in the kicker. The Rheinische Post gave Bailey top marks and he was also in the team of the day in the Bild and kicker. Other top marks went to Moussa Diaby, scorer of the second goal, as well as defensive stalwart Sven Bender.
In order to provide the best possible and safe working environment, Bayer 04 worked in partnership with the German Red Cross plus volunteers on Saturday to provide voluntary, free coronavirus tests for the first time for all members of staff and journalists. Around 80 people were tested ahead of the derby.
Tests will be available for further Werkself home games as with the clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, 24 April (kick-off: 18.30 CET).
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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There’s lots going on at the BayArena today. The home game against FSV Mainz 05 is all about the numerous Bayer 04 fan clubs, whose birth - the founding of the "1. Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen" - dates back 50 years. A number of fan club representatives will be involved in awards, a banner display and a half-time matchday chat, and the Werkself are set to play in a special white fan club jersey. During half-time, Leverkusen mayor Stefan Hebbel and javelin world champion Steffi Nerius will also talk about the Olympic bid involving Leverkusen. Black and Red fans are advised to get to the stadium in good time today. Matchday news.
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The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.
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