The battling 2-1 win for the Werkself at Wolfsburg again demonstrates the ability of head coach Roger Schmidt’s team to take blows and fight back. Bayer 04 succeeded in coming back from behind to win a match for the third time in the current Bundesliga campaign. The previous two victories were against Hamburg SV and FSV Mainz 05 when hat-tricks from Joel Pohjanpalo and Chicharito turned the games round. Those nine points are the highest number in the league and Leverkusen were the most successful team last season in this respect, picking up 19 points after going behind (five wins, four draws).
The boost from an important match, played with great determination, comes at exactly the right time in a busy week of fixtures that sees the Werkself take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday before returning to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a home fixture against Darmstadt 98. Bayer 04 set off to London on Tuesday from Cologne/Bonn Airport. There will be no lack of support for the Werkself in Britain’s capital: A large number of the players’ and coaches’ wives and girlfriends will be there along with the Bayer 04 Veterans team plus some 2,000 fans.
World-famous Wembley stadium
They are all looking forward to Wednesday night’s clash at the legendary Wembley Stadium opened in 2007 – in exactly the same spot as the historical arena opened in 1923 and the stage for the Olympic Games in 1948, the World Cup Final in 1966 and the Euro 96 Final. It was demolished in 2003 to make way for the new stadium. Wembley, with a capacity of 90,000, has twice hosted the Champions League Final: In 2011 between Barcelona and Manchester United (3-1) and in 2013 between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich(1-2). This season has seen the start of construction work at Spurs home ground of White Hart Lane and that means that Tottenham will play all their home Champions League games at Wembley this term and in the 2017/18 season all home games will be played at Wembley. The new White Hart Lane will have a capacity of 61,000 (currently 36,000). The stadium will be ready for the start of the 2018/19 campaign.
Spurs remain unbeaten in Premier League
Spurs are still the only team in the Premier League yet to lose a match this season. However, the team coached by Mauricio Pochettino have stuttered a bit lately. On Saturday, they drew 1-1 with reigning champions Leicester City with the Dutchman Vincent Janssen putting them ahead from the penalty spot. Tottenham are currently fifth in the English top flight, three points behind leaders Manchester City, and their next outing in the league is the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Werkself U19 team also have great plans for the trip to London. The team coached by Markus von Ahlen and Iraklis Metaxas are looking for a result to follow up the 3-1 victory against Spurs in Leverkusen to set themselves up with a good chance of making the knockout stages of the Youth League. That match kicks off at 18.00 CET on Wednesday.
Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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The Werkself are looking for the first win of the new calendar year: Ahead of the sold-out Bundesliga home match against SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about taking chances, possible winter transfers and a “Lion" returning to the Leverkusen matchday squad.
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Werder Bremen play Bayer 04 for the 90th time in the Bundesliga this Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The overall record so far still favours the Green and Whites, who have 28 wins against the Black and Reds (with 25 defeats and 36 draws). The visit to the BayArena marks the start of a crucial busy week for Werder Bremen with clashes against TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach to follow. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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