Excitement and anticipation are growing. That can be felt all over Leverkusen – and also seen now. The city is bedecked in the club colours of black and red. A total of 29 flags for the Pokal-#FinaLEV are flying in Leverkusen – they were hoisted at the BayArena this morning. Others will be flown this week from the town hall, on the administration building, on Landrat-Trimborn-Platz, at Schloss Morsbroich as well as in front of the Bayer Erholungshaus and the Bayer AG Casino. Bayer Leverkusen are also providing more colour: Bayer 04 have sent a small fan package to 50,000 households: We look forward to seeing flags in windows, in front gardens and on fences!
Ahead of such an important game, it would be great to send ‘your Werkself’ greetings, messages of encouragement or a shout of ‘come on you lads’ in person. Due to the coronavirus pandemic that unfortunately continues to be impossible. The team led by Peter Bosz are training behind closed doors to avoid any risk of infection. A slight consolation: Cardboard cut out figures of the Werkself stars are distributed all over the city – life size, to touch and photograph.
Sven Bender knows how to win cup finals – he twice lifted the trophy with Borussia Dortmund (2011/12 & 2016/17). Nevertheless: “A final is always special. It’s a great game that you don’t play in very often,” said the 31-year-old today said at a press conference. “Every final I’ve experienced was somehow different, ” added the defender. This time is even more unusual: “It will be a completely different final without spectators. But that doesn’t change it being a big match against a big opponent. This title has an extremely high value for the club – it’s a massive opportunity.” The full interview will be available tomorrow on bayer04.de.
After work is ‘Bayer 04 time’! From today, Werkself fans should set time aside every day up to Saturday’s cup final at four minutes past seven in the evening for ‘19:04 – The Show’! We will broadcast cup final information and events on YouTube and Facebook. We will be out on the road all over Leverkusen up to the cup final. Look forward to previous rounds of the cup, interviews with our cup heroes of 1993, on fan activities in our city, reports of preparations for the Werkself, players’ statements and insights behind the scenes.
Tonight (Monday) our presenter Mara Mones reports from Aachen – the venue for the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Cup. We look back at the game against Alemannia and also talk to the cup winner Franco Foda, who played for Bayer 04 from 1990 to 1994. We also take a look round Leverkusen. Tune in!
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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