The BayArena has become a landmark in Leverkusen over the years and always provides a particularly fitting image with symbolic community activities: That was the case with the World Prematurity Day when the BayArena, for the third successive year, was lit up in magenta for five hours last year and in November 2018 the Werkself home ground was bathed in orange light for the national campaign of the Zonta Club as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This Saturday, the BayArena will again have a different visage for another good cause: As part of Earth Hour 2019, the biggest global campaign for increased climate and environmental protection, the stadium will be in darkness for an hour from 20.30 CET to 21.30 CET.
This Saturday, 30 March, will see millions of people worldwide examine their behaviour in terms of consumption of energy and resources. Lights will be switched off for one hour at many internationally well-known German landmarks such as the cathedral in Cologne and the Brandenburg Gate. The BayArena will not be the only place in Leverkusen in the dark – the external lighting on the town hall and the town hall Galerie centre, the water tower and the Ostermann Arena will also be turned off for an hour.Bayer 04 is working with Leverkusen Council, NaturGut Ophoven, the Sportpark, the energy supplier EVL and the ECE Shopping Centre to send out a strong message for climate protection and a living planet.
Further information at https://www.earthhour.org
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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