The rebuilding of the Werkself home ground started just before Christmas in 2007. The new stadium had a capacity of over 30,000 and a unique roof construction, new levels in the stands and exclusive VIP areas to provide a fitting stage for a host of great moments of football. Ultras and visiting fans, company directors and families are all equally welcome at Bayer 04.
The 2009/10 season started with a 1-0 away win for the Black and Reds in the first round of the DFB Cup at the then Regional League outfit SV Babelsberg 03. And the team led by head coach Jupp Heynckes were also on the road on Bundesliga matchday one: The game at FSV Mainz 05 ended in a 2-2 draw. But then it was finally time – in the third match of the new season, Simon Rolfes, Stefan Kießling and Co. were able to play at their new stadium. 28,000 fans made their way to Bismarckstraße and there were queues at the entrances. A banner bearing the words ‘home sweet home’ adorned the North Stand - goose bumps by the River Dhünn!
The Werkself quickly took control of the home game against TSG Hoffenheim and penned the opposition in their own half. But the attack were unable to create any clear-cut chances. That changed in the middle of the second half: Renato Augusto was under no pressure when he played a pass to Eren Derdiyok who back-heeled the ball to Kießling who was just a fraction quicker than his TSG opponent Josip Simunic - 1-0 (67’). The first win of the season was clocked up.
Bayer 04 finished fourth in the Bundesliga in 2009/10. Memories remain of qualification for the Europa League as well as special moments at the ‘new’ BayArena...
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Adler - Castro (Schwaab 80’), Friedrich, Hyypiä, Kadlec - Vidal, Rolfes - Renato Augusto (Kroos 88’), Barnetta (Zdebel 88’) - Derdiyok, Kießling
TSG Hoffenheim: Hildebrand - Beck, Simunic, Compper, Ibertsberger - Carlos Eduardo, Vorsah (Wellington 74’), Salihovic - Obasi, Ibisevic (Ba 59’), Maicosuel (Vukcevic 46’)
Goals: Kießling (67’)
Booked: Kadlec, Vidal, Adler - Vorsah, Ibisevic
Referee: Peter Gagelmann (Bremen)
Attendance: 28,000
Bayer 04 host 1. FC Köln at the BayArena in the final home game of 2025 . Today’s match on Saturday, 13 December kicks off at 18:30.30 pm. The Werkself are looking for three points against 1. FC Köln, who are without a win in four games but they do have a shooting star in their ranks up front. The Bayer 04 Volunteering Award will be presented at the derby against the club from Cologne and another fan club will be honoured for many years of loyalty under the Cross. The matchday news.
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The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a women’s talent support centre. As announced by the DFB, 1 FC Köln, Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Hamburger SV are also certified as performance or talent support centres from 1 January 2026 in addition to the Werkself.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss at Werder Bremen on the 13th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 Women suffered a setback at the halfway point of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. In a battle of the chasing pack between the teams in third and fourth, coach Roberto Pätzold's side lost 1-0 at SV Werder Bremen in a physical contest. The result leaves the Werkself on 22 points after 13 matchdays and now four points behind Bremen.
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The Bayer 04 U19s will face Villarreal CF in Spain in the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League round of 16. That was the result of the draw made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday afternoon.
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