According to the online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, the Werkself missed a great chance against Freiburg with the following result: "Bayer are moving further and further away from their targets. Up to the winter break the intention appears to be to muddle through and then start again – although it could already be the case that it's too late to seriously challenge for one of the top spots. And, in addition: It wouldn't harm to practise penalties.”
And the online edition of the Rheinische Post also saw the chance to win as absolutely clear: "After the break… the hosts, weakened by bad luck with injuries, looked like they had the upper hand. However, in front of the Freiburg goal Leverkusen were, without strikers Kevin Volland and Admir Mehmedi, more or less harmless. After a good opportunity for Chicharito, Julian Brandt did good work to set up Calhanoglu. After the restart, the substitute Joel Pohjanpalo and Chicharito both had chances to make it 2-1 against a Freiburg side that appeared to lack confidence."
The Sonntags Express was keen to discover the reason for the "Fear of the striker at penalties": Bayer and the penalty problem! It's the most absurd story of the season.… 11 of the last 19 penalties have been missed. This season, the Werkself players missed all four attempts from the spot – if you count the Cup exit at Lotte, then it's seven. Against Frankfurt, Augsburg, Leipzig and now Freiburg this miserable streak has already cost Bayer six important points.' At some point the bloody ball has to go in. Things like that are costing us wins. It just can't be true,' said a miffed Kevin Kampl."
Bild am Sonntag identifies another important reason for the draw; the outstanding performance of the Freiburg goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow: "BamS top mark is for his super saves. The Freiburg keeper Alexander Schwolow (24) secured a vital point in Leverkusen. 18 months ago he was still playing in the third division for Arminia Bielefeld. And yesterday he became a Freiburg hero. Saved the Chicharito penalty with his foot. Schwolow on the penalty:' I just stood still by intuition and reacted to the ball. Of course, I was lucky the ball didn't rebound to Chicharito. Brilliant!'"
And, in the view of the Freiburg-based Badische Zeitung, it was Schwolow who primarily frustrated Chicharito: "Schwolow becomes the match winner – First the Mexican has a close range effort saved by Schwolow (52'), then he heads the ball wide of the goal (58'). The poor finishing ran through the game like a thread as even Calhanoglu and the substitute Joel Pohjanpalo were unable to beat Schwolow. And then he saved Chicharito's penalty with his foot and was justifiably thanked by his team-mates.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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