
The director Stefan Thomé sent out the invites and Michael Schade was one of the people who called in. "For Bayer 04 it's good to know we have a completely reliable partner at our side in the Fan Project," said the CEO and he went on to praise the first-class work of Thomé and his colleagues Daniela Frühling and Hannes Diller.
For 20 years, the Fan Project has looked after Werkself fans at home and away games, taken part in security meetings, provided advice with personal problems and conflicts related to football and organised preventive events on the subjects of violence, racism and bullying in schools. In addition, there are regular football and running sessions.
"The successful concept of the Fan Project is based on well thought out educational work," said Uwe Richrat, Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, and Marc Adomat, head of the Department for Schools and Sports, added: "The Fan Project, with its full-time and voluntary staff, regularly succeeds in ensuring that football at the BayArena is one of the best activities in the world."


Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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