Back
23.11.2021Europa League

Our next opponents: Ambitious visitors from Paradise

A first attempt to win the group for the Black and Reds: The Werkself entertain Celtic on Thursday night, 25 November (kick-off: 18.45 CET) on the penultimate matchday of the Europa League group stage. A win against the Scots would ensure the team under Gerardo Seoane finish top of Group G. However, the opposition have rediscovered form. Following the home defeat against Bayer 04, Celtic have gone on an unbeaten run up to this match. The lowdown on our next opponents.
crop_imago1008135709h.jpg

Lukas Hradecky and Co. secured a convincing win in the first clash the top Scottish side at the end of September: after 90 minutes at the legendary Celtic Park – named Paradise by their fans – the game ended in a 4-0 victory. This heavy defeat clearly had an effect on the Green and Whites with Celtic going unbeaten across three competitions up to today. The team under coach Ange Postecoglou have picked up eight wins and one draw since the first game against the Black and Reds. The captain Callum McGregor and Co. clocked up six points in the last two matches against Ferencvaros (2-0, 3-2).

BAck in the title race

Following a patchy start in the Scottish league, Celtic are now back in the title race. Ahead of the first game against Bayer 04, the Postecoglou team were sixth in the table and six points behind arch rivals and league leaders Rangers. The Green and Whites have now made up four points on Rangers and moved up four places, Celtic are currently second in Scotland's top flight.

The last league match brought a 4-2 away win at Dundee. Following the international break, there was a 1-0 home win against St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup.

Meagre returns on german soil

The statistics ahead of the second game between Celtic and Bayer 04 clearly favour the Werkself: The Scots have lost six of their seven away games in Germany in the Europa League or UEFA Cup (one draw). The last game ended in a 2-0 defeat away to RB Leipzig in October 2018.

The BayArena has also become a real fortress in European home games: The Black and Reds have not lost any of the 14 home games in the group stages of the Europa League (11 wins, three draws). No team in the history of the competition has played at home as often as Bayer 04 without losing a single game.

Celtic waiting to pounce

The Seoane team are currently top of Group G with ten points from four games and Celtic are third on six points. Real Betis are second on seven points and Ferencvaros are bottom with no points.

 

Related News

Foto: Dustin Buck (Mitte) mit Kim Falkenberg (Direktor Fußball/r.) und Bernd Korzynietz (Leiter Kaderplanung Jugend/l.).V.l.: Bernd Korzynietz (Head of Recruitment Youth), Jonah Berghoff und Kim Falkenberg (Direktor Fußball)
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Bayer 04 award Jonah Berghoff professional contract

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.

Show more
Grafik Wahl Spieler der Saison
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Vote now for your 2025/26 Player of the Season

With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.

Show more
Grafik Wahl Spielerin der Saison
Women - 29.05.2026

Women: Vote now for your 2025/26 Player of the Season

With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.

Show more
Thomas Helmer, Reiner Calmund, Rüdiger Vollborn und Simon Rolfes
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Rolfes and Vollborn on Calmund show

The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.

Show more