The design of the new Bayer 04 home shirt has been designed together with kit supplier Castore in conjunction with Werkself fans. "The Bayer Cross is an important, identity-creating symbol for our supporters," said Marcus Breglec, chief marketing & innovation officer at Bayer 04. "A lot of fans asked for this to be more clearly represented on the Werkself home shirt." A second, much bigger cross is on the chest of the shirt in the style of the Bayer Cross on the club badge and the flags in the home end.
"It stands both for our tradition as well as our desire for high quality and performance," said Harald Hartel, head of brand at Bayer 04. "The Bayer Cross is well known throughout the world and people everywhere see it as a sort of seal of quality. Few clubs have such a strong trademark."
The new shirt has also gone down well with the players. "For me, the cross on the chest expresses a big sense of community, it's a great symbol of the togetherness of fans and the team," declared captain Lukas Hradecky.
The new home shirt is made 100% of polyester and has a stretch fit. Shirts are available in children's sizes 128 to 164 (at the price of €64.90) and adult sizes S to 5XL (at the price of €84.90).
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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