The game will be refereed by William Cullom supported by his fellow Scottish match officials. Read on for stats and facts ahead of #B04atleti:
Schade: "Now we want more"
There is no doubt that the Spaniards are the favourites tonight at the BayArena having qualified for the final of Europe's premier club competition twice in the past three years. It is equally clear that Bayer 04 go into the clash with the Rojiblancos in enthusiastic and confident mood as Michael Schade emphasised. "Our young team has already achieved great things by qualifying for the Round of 16 but now we want more. Our target is the quarter-finals – regardless of the strength of Atlético," declared the CEO.
Werkself cross Simeone’s path
Diego Simeone is often a partisan livewire on the touchline at Atlético matches but he was full of respect for the hosts at the pre-match press conference. "It won't be easy for us. Bayer 04 have a good team who have gained confidence recently. Havertz and Brandt are very quick and you always have to look out for Chicharito as he's tough to handle," said the Madrid coach. The Argentinian manager led his team out against the Werkself in the Round of 16 two years ago and also encountered them as a player: In the group stage of the 1999/2000 Champions League campaign he played for Lazio against Leverkusen. Both games ended all square at 1-1 with Simeone coming off the bench in both matches.
Da Costa’s baptism of fire in the snow
Tonight's meeting of Bayer 04 and Atlético is the fifth competitive match on the European stage between the two clubs. The first two games came in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2010/11 with both ending in 1-1 draws (Eren Derdiyok scored for Bayer 04 at the Estadio Vicente Calderón and Patrick Helmes netted at the BayArena). Two years ago, the Werkself won 1-0 at the BayArena thanks to a goal from Hakan Calhanoglu. The return game saw Atlético win 1-0 through a Mario Suarez strike and the Spanish side won the tie 3-2 on penalties. Three of the current Bayer 04 squad played against Atlético in 2010: Stefan Kießling, Lars Bender and Danny da Costa with the then 17-year-old celebrating his baptism of fire in European football in heavy snow at the BayArena in December
Bayer 04 looking for another first
Roger Schmidt's team are unbeaten in the last ten home games in UEFA competitions, picking up five wins and five draws along the way. The last defeat was a 1-0 reverse against AS Monaco in November 2014. And, with the Werkself coming through the group stage unbeaten for the first time in eleven Champions League campaigns, they are looking to achieve another first of winning a Round of 16 tie. When Bayer 04 reached the final in 2002 there was a second group stage leading straight to the quarter-finals.
Brandt’s record, Chicha’s winner
Julian Brandt scored his first goal in his 19th game in the Champions League in the 3-0 win against AS Monaco in the last game of the group stage – making him the youngest goalscorer for the Werkself in Europe's premier club competition. Brandt scored at the age of 20 years and 219 days. Chicharito also has very positive experiences in the Champions League against Atlético. He played for Real Madrid when they knocked the Colchoneros out at the quarter-final stage in 2014/15: After a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderón he decided the fate of Atlético in the return match at the Bernabeu scoring the only goal of the game on 88 minutes.
Atlético’s good record
The Rojiblancos are in the Champions League quarter-finals for the ninth time. Last season, the Spaniards beat PSV Eindhoven 8-7 on penalties after two goalless matches in the Round of 16. That was the first time in the history of the UEFA Champions League that a tie in the knockout stages has ended 0-0 in both legs. Atlético have won out every time in the last seven two-legged encounters with German teams. In 20 away games in the Champions League since September 2013 Atlético have clocked up nine wins and five draws. The 18 matches to date in Germany have brought five wins, three draws and ten defeats for the Colchoneros. Koke, Filipe Luis and the currently injured players Diego Godin and Tiago were part of the team that last won in Germany in 2011/12 with a 2-1 victory over Hannover 96 in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
#nextLEVel
Ahead of the home game against Atlético, Bayer 04 have made it possible for all fans to tweet their support using the hashtag #nextLEVel via StadiumVision to the BayArena.
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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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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