The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger writes: "On a cold Wednesday night in December Bayer 04 Leverkusen completed the statistically most successful group stage of the Champions League in the club's history. A 3-0 win against AS Monaco sees the Werkself progress to the Round of 16 unbeaten for the first time.… Yurchenko was centre stage with his technique and vision. And when he ran to the edge of the opposition penalty area on the half-hour mark he was struck by a flash of genius. Just shoot! Not just aimlessly but rather with a combination of nouse, swerve and speed that saw the ball escape the fingers of the flying goalkeeper de Sanctis on its way into the top corner. Bayer 04 lead 1-0. And Yurchenko reported back as a serious option in midfield after a long period out injured."
The headline in the Kicker reads: "Bayer agile, focused, terrific." The journal’s assessment: Bayer showed their best side against the group winners and deservedly won." Julian Brandt was named man of the match: "Always at the centre of the action with great ideas, impressive passes and good runs. One goal, impressive. Julian Brandt was the best player."
"Leverkusen unbeaten into the last sixteen" is the headline in the Bild Zeitung and the report continues: "Leverkusen deservedly beat group winners Monaco 3-0 to progress to the Round of 16 as runners-up. Unbeaten for the first time in the club's history. This relatively insignificant victory brings with it a bonus of €1.5 million."
The Cologne newspaper Express reports: "Bayer boys conjure up Leverkusen victory." The report continues: "Bayer have laid down a marker in the Champions League. They conjured up a 3-0 win against AS Monaco, already through as group winners, and earned €1.5 million for the victory.… Any other highlights? Let's take a look at a wonder goal. One look. A curler. With gusto. But also a lot of feeling. From 20 yards out ball flew into the top right corner of the Monaco net. Vladlen Yurchenko (22) hoisted his arms into the night sky in Leverkusen. The injured Admir Mehmedi said ' A wonder goal from Vlad'."
The Rheinische Post view is: "When the final Champions League group game does not involve going through or resolving places then that is not normally a good sign. That's usually the end of the story. In the case of Bayer Leverkusen… It was different. The paradox for the Werkself: There was nothing more to play for in the most popular competition in club football. Regardless of the 3-0 victory, the opponents AS Monaco go through to the Round of 16 as group winners, and Bayer as runners-up. However, the Werkself could celebrate first ever win against Monaco."
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win against FC Köln on the 18th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 have secured the services of Serbia U19 international Aleksa Damjanovic for next season. The 17-year-old centre-forward will move from Red Star Belgrade to Leverkusen in the summer on a long-term contract. The 1.98 metre tall striker is regarded as one of the most promising attacking talents in Europe and has recently impressed with strong performances at both first team and youth level. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes and director of football Kim Falkenberg particularly praise his finishing, heading ability and physical presence in the penalty area.
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After seven games without a win, the 2-1 home victory against VfB Stuttgart last weekend provided a real boost for the Kiezkicker and their fans. FC St. Pauli now head to Leverkusen again with plenty of momentum. On Saturday, 14 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Hamburg side face Bayer 04 for the third time this season, with the last game against the Werkself less than a fortnight ago. Despite the defeat in the DFB Pokal quarter-final, coach Alexander Blessin's team can take some positives from that game. The update on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 eSports team made a great start to the fifth and final showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26! The Leverkusen players picked up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round. Victories against VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Braunschweig and SpVgg Greuther Fürth not only put the Black and Reds in a good position to progress to the offline round. Valuable points were also collected for the overall table and direct entry into the final event of the German Club Championship.
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The fifth and final showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 begins for the #B04eSports team this Thursday, 12 February (live on the VBL Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), with the online preliminary round kicking off against VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Braunschweig and SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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