The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger writes under the headline: 'Still flying high':"When it went dark, fluorescent lights, which had been placed on the seats or on the terrace for the fans, flickered around the BayArena. The performance of the Werkself in the last home game of the year was not quite so spectacular. However, they continued their rise to the top spots in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen although there was an unnecessary scare at the end. But that is a new quality of Bayer 04: One goal is enough if required. That was the twelfth game unbeaten in succession across all competitions." Leon Bailey was named the man of the match: "Of course, the man for the special moment in Leverkusen's game did it once again. The assist for the goal to make it 1-0 was again a mix of high pace and precision that few players possess."
The Kölnische Rundschau headline "Clever Werkself" refers to the coming year: "Bayer Leverkusen have continued their impressive run and are now in a Champions League place. Thanks to the 1-0 win against Werder Bremen, the Werkself are unbeaten for the eleventh time in succession on Bundesliga matchday 16 and have moved up to fourth place. If Bayer, with Lucas Alario scoring the winner on 11 minutes, win in the final matchday of the year at Hannover 96 then the opening match of the second half of the season against league leaders Bayern Munich on 12 January should be a real cracker."
The Kicker observes: "Bayer 04 are back in a Champions League position for the first time in 18 months after the Werkself were 17th in the table after three games. The climb up the league continues." And the specialist magazine also emphasises the successful rotation performed by Heiko Herrlich: "Lucas Alario, who is only been in the starting eleven once in the last six games, scored the only goal of the game. In addition to the introduction of the €19 million signing, Heiko Herrlich made three changes from the side that won 2-0 at Stuttgart. The fact the Werkself coach regularly changes his line-up is now readily accepted in Leverkusen... "So the Herrlich rotation moves Bayer up the league. And not just because Alario scored. Julian Baumgartlinger was also impressive in the holding midfield role against Werder."
The Bild Zeitung has even made the exact calculation: "Back in a Champions League spot after 579 days: Alario wins it for Bayer. The long drought is over!"
The Express writes: "The Werkself are unstoppable – even against bogey teams. Heiko Herrlich (46) and his team remain unbeaten for the eleventh game in succession after a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen. The victory takes Leverkusen up to a Champions League spot of fourth place – thanks to the sniffer Lucas Alario (25). 'El pipa' finally showed he has recovered his nose for a goal. After hitting the woodwork twice in Frankfurt, Lucas Alario was on the spot to score with his first chance in the game against Werder."
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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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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