
The headline in the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger reads, 'Wake- up call at half-time' and highlights the animated intervention of the captain in the dressing room: "The input of Lars Bender during half-time clearly hit home. With the scoreline of 0-0 and a shots on goal ratio of 0 to 8, the Bayer 04 Leverkusen captain spoke out in the basement of the Düsseldorf stadium on Wednesday night to shake his team-mates into action. Kevin Volland did not want to divulge any details but it was all about Bayer 04 not playing as badly against the newly promoted Fortuna.'His words definitely had an effect,' said Volland - particularly where he was concerned. His two goals secured a 2-1 victory for Bayer 04 and the third win in succession."
The Kölnische Rundschau came to the following conclusion: "Recovery part three: Bayer 04 Leverkusen continued to battle their way out of the crisis on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win away to newly promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf. Once again led by their outstanding young star Kai Havertz and with two goals from Kevin Volland, the Werkself achieved a third win inn succession to move up to a mid-table position in the Bundesliga."
The Bild Zeitung showed concern about the housing situation of the double goalscorer: "Will his rent agreement be cancelled? Leverkusen win 2-1 at Fortuna because Kevin Volland (26) scores twice (50', 60'). Interesting: The striker, who hadn't scored in the Bundesliga since April (!), lives in Düsseldorf of all places. Volland has annoyed his neighbours! 50th minute: Corner from Bailey. Kohr rises and powers a header towards the far corner. Volland sticks out a foot. 1-0! 60th minute: Havertz lobs a delightful pass to Volland who only has to nod it in. 2-0!"
The Express sums up the sporting event in Düsseldorf with this common denominator: "Leverkusen only actually played 15 minutes of good football but that was enough for the clever Werkself side to take three points from Düsseldorf. A clinical Kevin Volland and an impressive goalkeeper made the difference against the newly promoted club." The paper highlights the outstanding display by Lukas Hradecky: "Less than seven minutes had gone and the Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky had already twice saved his team from going behind. First of all, he turned away a shot from Bonito Ramadan heading for the top corner at the end of an impressive Düsseldorf move and shortly after that he kept out Rouwen Hennings."
The Rheinische Post report reads: "When the referee Manuel Gräfe blew for half-time on Wednesday night,the world of the Fortuna fans in the 40,046 crowd was still in order. The score was 0-0 but the hosts dominated an opponent of European quality in Bayer Leverkusen. The fact the game ended in a 2-1 defeat for Fortuna was, on the one hand, down to themselves due to careless finishing. On the other hand, the Werkself began to show their high, individual quality on the pitch after the break – and they overtook Fortuna in the Bundesliga table not undeservedly."


Ahead of Bayer 04's Europa League match away to OFI Crete in Greece, defender Jarell Quansah spoke to Werkself-TV...
Show more
It couldn't have been any tighter! Despite winning four of six games in the online preliminary round in Showdown 1 of the VBL Club Championship 2026/27, Leverkusen eSports duo Marc and Sean Landwehr didn't make it through to the offline knockout round. Level on points (12) with seven other teams, Leverkusen were the only team with this points tally not to progress as they had the worst single-game record compared to their rivals.
Show more
He's one of the leading figures of Leverkusen and the German economy: Werner Wenning rose from an apprentice at Bayer 04 to CEO of the global company. A childhood Werkself fan, he has held a position of responsibility at the club for many years as chairman of the shareholder committee of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH. Today the Leverkusen native celebrates his 80th birthday. The entire Bayer 04 family offers its warmest wishes!
Show more
Bayer 04 are away to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off on Thursday 26 November at 18:45 CET at the Maksimir Stadium. All the information on ticket sales.
Show more