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.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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