Karim Bellarabi and Wendell have agreed new long-term contracts at Bayer 04.
“We’re happy to finally get started again and we’re particularly happy that we were able to convince Wendell and Karim Bellarabi that it is the right decision to make a long-term commitment to Bayer 04,” said Rudi Völler in opening the press conference broadcast live on bayer04.de.
Ahead of the top match, head coach Roger Schmidt was very optimistic about the prevailing mood in the team: “This a very, very good sign for the club and for our group. We go into this match in very good shape. It will be an exciting game.”
Schmidt sees Gladbach as a very strong opponent: “Like us, they have a have a solid squad that is constantly strengthened.” From a tactical perspective Schmidt is primarily expecting a lot of turnover moments: “Both teams want to use winning possession to hurt the opposition. Gladbach are really very good at that - but so are we. Gladbach have intelligent, quick players up front. We’re prepared for that and we have to be tactically on our guard and react accordingly.”
Chicharito (broken hand), Stefan Kießling (back in full training) and Lars Bender are all ruled out. Julian Brandt could be back. Schmidt: “Julian Brandt is on top form. If he doesn’t say, ‘it’s not on, I’ve hardly slept a wink’ then we’ll take him with us.”
Ticket update
Bayer 04 will have the support of 2,600 fans at Gladbach. The away ticket office (at Borussia Park) still has seats available for Block 7 (€40.50). The office opens on the matchday 2 ½ hours before kick-off.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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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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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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