#finallyRED
The club and fans are reviving a tradition to make it happen: ‘Finally Red’ – originally launched by the NK12 Fan Club. Since the Cup Final in 2009 the home end has regularly been turned into a sea of deep red. Eight years later, the intention is for every home supporters area at the BayArena to be in that colour. That’s why the fan organisations and the club are calling on everyone to wear red for Saturday’s derby at home to FC Köln. Replica shirts, pullovers, T-shirts, shirts or jackets – everybody will recognise support for the team straight away: For Bayer 04! For our SVB!
Bayer 04 lead in derby stats
Bayer 04 and FC Köln meet for Rhine derby number 60 in the Bundesliga. The previous 59 games have seen Bayer 04 win significantly more often than Köln: The Werkself have won 22 and the neighbours from Cologne 14 with 23 matches ending all square. The Werkself can extend that positive stat on Saturday basede on a particularly good record at home. Leverkusen have won 17 of the 32 matches with ten ending in draws.
Latest derby since 1988
It's a long time since the Werkself have played the team from Cologne so late in the season. To be exact, the last time was in May 1988 with the 2-2 draw ensuring the relegation of FC Köln.
Unique in the league
This fixture is unique in the whole of the Bundesliga. The BayArena and the Rhein Energie Stadium are just 14.6 km apart as the crow flies. No other two grounds are as close together.
Ever-present Bernd Leno
Bernd Leno has played every minute in the previous 32 matches this season. He shares the most time on the pitch with seven other ever-presents in the league and they are all goalkeepers. In addition to Bernd Leno, only Yann Sommer (Gladbach), Ralf Fährmann (Schalke), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Marwin Hitz (Augsburg), Rune Jarstein (Hertha) and Alexander Schwolow (Freiburg) have played every minute between the posts
Höger and Risse return to Leverkusen
The current FC Köln players Marco Höger and Marcel Risse started their careers at Leverkusen. Marco Höger played for Werkself youth teams from 2001 to 2005. His team-mate Marcel Risse also played for Bayer 04 youth sides winning the U19 German title in 2007 and the youth cup a year later in 2008. Höger could play against the Werkself on Saturday but Risse is unlikely to be in the squad as he is still recovering from a torn cruciate.
Bus stops changed
The stops for buses to Bergisch Gladbach and Mathildenhof after the game have been changed. Click here for new arrangements >> (PDF).
Live action on the Live app
The Bayer 04 live app, voted as one of the most innovative apps by a large app blog, will be full of derby information on Saturday. You can download the app to follow the Werkself home game wherever you are at bit.ly/b04live.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-3 loss against Werder Bremen on the 26th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer have shown great commitment to the community as the sale of custom-designed T-shirts for charity in the Fanwelt as part of the “BarmeniaGothaer Brings Joy campaign raised a good €5,000. Bayer 04 matched this sum with an equal contribution. As a result, a total of €10,000 was presented to Edmond Tapsoba for his foundation ahead of the home match against Hamburg. The foundation supports people facing challenging daily circumstances in his home country of Burkina Faso.
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Bayer 04 host Hamburg at the BayArena for the first time since September 2017 on the final day of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season on Saturday (15:30 CEST). HSV are safe in their first campaign back in the top flight after back-to-back wins, but Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 19 games against promoted teams as they go for the victory they need to have a chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. There’s also heavy discounts on food and drinks at the BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 fixture in our matchday news.
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As well as previously confirmed departures, Bayer 04 Women will also say goodbye to Vanessa Haim and Shen Menglu before Sunday’s final game of the season at home to Werder Bremen as the pair leave Leverkusen upon the expiration of their contracts.
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The climax to a long season, emotional farewells and hopes of a major triumph: Bayer 04 Women face a thrilling final matchday in the Bundesliga. In the clash against SV Werder Bremen on Sunday, 17 May (kick-off: 14:00 CEST) at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, the Werkself could make history and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history – provided rivals Eintracht Frankfurt lose at home to 1. FC Union Berlin at the same time. Even setting aside the sporting context, it's set to be a special afternoon.
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