Not just the stands will be full of fans tonight. There will be a bigger than usual attendance by journalists and media representatives: Hradecky, Havertz and Co. will be broadcast across the globe on 80 different TV stations. In addition, 77 print journalists and 74 photographers have accredited. Any fans unable to get a ticket can watch the game on the streaming service DAZN, follow the live text commentary at bayer04.de or tune into Werkself Radio.
Bayer 04 supporters can look forward to a real treat ahead of kick-off: There will be a pre-match show on the touchline from around 19.40 CET. Two honorary Werkself captains, Stefan Kießling and Carsten Ramelow will be there. The show will be on Bayer 04 TV, on our YouTube channel as well as our Facebook page.
A goal for the Werkself or the visitors will do tonight: The French referee Benoit Bastien has officiated three European games involving German teams to date – all ended in goalless draws: The clash between FC Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund in 2018, the Europa League play-off first leg match between RB Leipzig and Sorja Luhansk plus a 0-0 draw between Schalke and Galatasaray. The Werkself will be happy to break the cycle of stats with at least one goal against Juve.
When Pascal Ojigwe was 18 years old, FC Kaiserslautern signed the Nigerian from his home country in 1995 – and the midfielder then spent 11 years in Germany. Bayer 04 signed the former Nigeria international five years later. Ojigwe went on to be a runner-up with the Werkself in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and the Champions League playing 55 games for the Black and Reds. Pascal today celebrates his 43rd birthday. Bayer 04 wish him many happy returns.
Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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