Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
"There's no doubt we are looking forward to this new competition," stated Gerardo Seoane at the start. "Our participation in the Champions League is the reward for very good work last season by many, many people at our club."
According to the Swiss coach, the Werkself are expecting the Belgian champions to be a "team strong at home who have a good mix of the physical and footballing quality."
While Gerardo Seoane has been in the dugout six times in the champions league in the 2018/29 season as the head coach of the Swiss club Young Boys Bern, Robert Andrich is waiting for his first appearance in Europe's premier club competition. The Werkself number eight was playing in the third division four years ago but the dream of playing in the Champions League was in his mind back then: "I said to myself I’d do it by 27. Now I’m here at the age of 27 and I'm proud of it. It will be a moving, special moment for me. The anticipation is growing and growing!"
One player who does know how it feels to play in the Champions League is teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi. The six-year younger new signing at the Werkself won the tournament last summer with Chelsea. Ahead of the game, Seoane refused to divulge whether Hudson-Odoi would start at the Jan Breydel Stadium. The technically gifted Englishman with his confidence on the ball staked his claim with a "convincing" performance in Saturday's home game against SC Freiburg.
In spite of the 3-2 defeat against Freiburg, Seoane took several positives in the clash. So, the approach to the game against the Belgian champions will require "courage, energy and complete conviction," as the Leverkusen head coach declared at the end.
The Werkself will again be able to rely on strong support from the stands at the Jan Breydel Stadium: Over 1,200 Bayer 04 fans will be at the game on Wednesday night.
A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
Show more
The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
Show more
For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
Show more
European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
Show more
