
FC Zürich were champions of the Swiss Super League last season under head coach André Breitenreiter (now at TSG Hoffenheim) with a commanding 14 point lead over the runners-up. The current campaign has been less successful for the club from Zürich: FCZ are currently next to bottom in the Swiss league with twelve points from 16 games.
The Werkself and FC Zürich have previously met three times. Bayer 04 secured an emphatic 5-0 win in a group match in the UEFA Cup in 2007/08. In 2018/19, there was one win each in Group A of the UEFA Europa league: FC Zürich won 3-2 at home and the Werkself secured a 1-0 victory in the return match.
Information on ticket sales will be available nearer the time on Bayer 04 club channels.
The winter timetable for the Alonso team is as follows: After the #Bayer04USATour to St. Louis from 13 to 18 November, the Werkself now have time off up to 30 November. Lukas Hradecky and Co. will then return to training in Leverkusen from 1 to 18 December. On 10 December there is a friendly away to Scottish record champions Rangers in Glasgow with the friendly against FC Zürich the last match in 2022 for Bayer 04.
The Werkself players will have time off over the festive period before returning on 3 January 2023 for the final preparations ahead of competitive matches in the New Year.

In the first episode of the new interview series "A New Chapter", Werkself defender Jarell Quansah reflects on his first few months under the Cross and speaks about his journey from England to Leverkusen. Having come through the ranks at Liverpool, a new chapter began for Quansah in the summer at Bayer 04 — with new objectives, fresh challenges and much ambition. In the video, the centre-back speaks about his development as a player and person, about the courage to leave your own comfort zone, and about what it means for him to be part of an international team in a different country. Honest, reflective and full of motivation — just like the start of his Werkself career.
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Full focus on Hoffenheim: after the late postponement of the away match at Hamburger SV, the Werkself are looking forward. To get themselves in top shape for the key clash at top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 17 January (kick-off 15:30 CET), a number of players showed full commitment even on a day off - including two AFCON returnees...
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After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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