The German Football Association (DFB) have appointed FIFA referee Marco Fritz from Korb as today's match referee. His assistants are Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim. The fourth official is Florian Badstübner and Harm Osmers is the VAR.
This is Bundesliga match number seven for Fritz this season. He has been in charge of 18 Werkself games in the league with the Black and Reds winning 10 (3 draws, 5 defeats).
A total of 15,000 spectators are permitted to attend today's game at the Deutsche Bank Park. 535 tickets have been sold in the away end. Dear Bayer 04 fans, it's great to see you with the Werkself in the penultimate away game in 2021.
The Werkself go into the game against Eintracht Frankfurt as the closest challengers to the leading duo from Munich and Dortmund. The third-placed Seoane team currently have 27 points. The hosts have 18 points in twelfth position. December has brought a 3-2 defeat for the Eagles in the league against TSG Hoffenheim and on Thursday there was a 1-1 draw in the final Europa League group match at Fenerbahce.
In the summer of 2001, the then eight-year-old Danny da Costa joined Bayer 04. He was with the Black and Reds for 11 years before moving out on a two-year loan deal at FC Ingolstadt. In 2014, he decided to sign for FCI – and two years later it was back to Leverkusen. The right-back had his last season in Black and Red in 2016/17. Since then, he has played for the Eagles. We look forward to the reunion.
Norbert Sobbe was at the Werkself for two seasons. Signed from MSV Duisburg in 1974, the striker made 15 appearances in the Bundesliga 2 North. Sobbe then joined FC Viersen two years later. Today he celebrates his 68th birthday. Many happy returns.
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
Show more
After falling behind early on, Bayer 04 took control of the game against a combative and disciplined FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. However, they lacked the necessary precision in finishing and hit the post and crossbar three times. After the game, coach Kasper Hjulmand said he wanted to get back to the "right philosophy" of previous matches with three games left in 2025. The Werkself review.
Show more
