Jonathan Tah and Co. face a crowded fixture list over the coming weeks. The opening fixture for the Black and Reds in Europe in the 2021/22 season is against Ferencváros. "There is great anticipation ahead of competing with European teams," said Gerardo Seoane a day before the clash. Leading player Tah, who the head coach said had a good chance of being in the starting eleven, added: "We want to get the best possible result in the game."
In the final pre-match training session on Wednesday morning, Seoane had a full complement of outfield players with the exception of the three long-term absentees through injury Edmond Tapsoba, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Julian Baumgartlinger. "Charly Aránguiz is also 100% available following small problems after the international break," said the Swiss boss.
The Bayer 04 head coach was not only concerned with his own team ahead of the match: In analysing the forthcoming opponents from Hungary, he is mainly focused on their attack: "They have a number of players who can pose a threat," the 42-year-old initially mentioned the former Bundesliga player Robert Mak. In Ryan Mmaee and Tokmac Nguen, Ferencváros also have two fast players with good technique and Myrto Uzuni is ready for anything on the left flank.

"They will want to make the most of their strength in transitional play. Our defenders will face the challenge of standing up to that strength," said Seoane expects a different game from the last outing against Borussia Dortmund: "It is down to us tomorrow to have more possession and to force the opponents back."
The new format will be used in the Europa League from tomorrow (Thursday). The team finishing top in the group will qualify directly for the Round of 16 and thereby avoid an additional round. "We are aware of the format of the competition. Our aim is to compete for top spot. The final positions in the table are irrelevant at the moment."
Seoane and his Werkself team face the priority of making a successful start on the European stage and to extend the winning run against Hungarian teams – in 1994 there were 2-0 and 5-0 victories against Honvéd.
Match information:
Broadcasters: TVNOW and Werkself Radio
Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia)
)

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.
Show more
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…
Show more
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.
Show more
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').
Show more