2025/26 season review

Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.

Departures and new beginnings

It already became clear in the spring that the team would be restructured for the new season. The most eventful summer in terms of transfer activity in Bayer 04 history lay ahead. After head coach Xabi Alonso and defensive lynchpin Jonathan Tah said goodbye to fans at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, several other heroes of the double-winning team left the club in summer 2025, including captain Lukas Hradecky, Jeremie Frimpong, Piero Hincapie, Granit Xhaka and star Florian Wirtz. The latter said at the time: "I would like to say thank you for the great sympathy shown to me by the management, teammates and all the staff every day. And I'd like to say to the fans of Bayer 04 who got behind me and the team over all those years: it was an honour for me to do my best."

The departure of those players also meant the start of a new chapter in Leverkusen. It was a case of looking to the future now, with courage and new ideas. There was a spirit of change and optimism. The Werkself welcomed over a dozen new signings in the summer, including experienced title winners as well as young talents, to form a new "foundation for a successful and title-challenging team", as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. A new spirit, a new drive and a new story were to emerge.

Transfers, training camp, friendlies

This story started with a special highlight: the training camp on the other side of the world in Rio de Janeiro, a culmination of Bayer 04's increasing activities in the Brazilian market. Some of the new signings were already part of the group here, while others joined up in the following weeks in Leverkusen. Between Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana and Sugarloaf Mountain, the team worked intensively towards the start of the season under new coach Erik ten Hag. Back in Leverkusen, they continued to work hard, while also using the time to get to know each other and grow together. Because it was clear: this new-look side needed time to find itself. Not just in a new club but for most of them, also in a new league, a new country and even a new culture.

After five friendlies against CR Flamengo U20 (1-5), VfL Bochum (2-0), Fortuna Sittard (2-1), Pisa SC (3-0) and Chelsea FC (0-2), the competitive season kicked off with the DFB Pokal first round away to SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. The match, which featured a 40-minute weather delay and two red cards for the regional-league opponents, finished 4-0 to new captain Robert Andrich and Co. However, after the opening two matches of the new Bundesliga campaign produced disappointing results - a 2-1 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw at 10-man SV Werder Bremen - the club management decided to part company with head coach ten Hag.

Autumn surge under Hjulmand – Grimaldo's golden free kicks

During the first international break of the new season, ten Hag was replaced by long-time Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand, who at that point had been working on an academy project for the Danish football association and wasn't actually on the market. However, the then 53-year-old couldn't resist the call from Bayer 04, as he described himself: "Only one club could give me this feeling - and that was Bayer 04." The Dane didn't have much time to get to know the players before his first match in charge. There was just half a week between his arrival in Leverkusen and Matchday 3, but that didn't bother him much. "Of course everything's not going to function perfectly straight away, but I learned in the national team to always work precisely and efficiently." And in fact, it soon became clear things were improving. Hjulmand celebrated a 3-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on his debut despite his team having two players sent off. After a 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Ernest Poku's first goal for the club fired Leverkusen to a 2-1 victory at FC St. Pauli. In the opening fixture of the new Champions League season, there may have 'only' been a 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen in Denmark, but the team impressed again here with great spirit. Having trailed for a long time, Alejandro Grimaldo made it 1-1 in the 83rd minute in the only way he seemed to know how to in the early part of the season: from a direct free kick. The set-piece specialist had previously curled the ball over the wall and into the net twice against Frankfurt. Just four minutes after the equaliser, the Werkself found themselves behind again, but Grimaldo and his teammates forced another equaliser via an own goal by the hosts in added time.

In the last two games of the first big block of the season, Bayer 04 were held to a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Aleix Garcia's 50th appearance, before a comfortable 2-0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin. On the scoresheet in both matches: Christian Kofane, who became Leverkusen's youngest-ever scorer in the UCL against PSV at the age of 19 years and 67 days and also opened his account in the Bundesliga against Union. The fans were already celebrating before kick-off against the capital club as the still injured Exequiel Palacios came onto the pitch and was cheered for his contract extension until 2030. Following the win, goalkeeper Mark Flekken commented: "You notice that the confidence and the connections in the team are growing." Two weeks later, when the Black-and-Reds returned from the international break with a 4-3 win at 1. FSV Mainz 05, Jonas Hofmann summed up the feelings at the time: "It feels like the gears are increasingly turning."

Record run ends – fans treated to goal fests

After seven games unbeaten, the first defeat under Hjulmand came in the Champions League against holders Paris Saint-Germain (7-2). But undeterred, the Werkself immediately returned to winning ways in their next outing, beating SC Freiburg 2-0. Three days later, they traveled to SC Paderborn 07, and that evening in East Westphalia had everything that once made 'Laterkusen' a legend: first, Grimaldo curled yet another free kick straight into the net, only for his team to concede the equaliser in the 90th minute and fall behind shortly after the start of extra time. Was this the end of their cup run? Not at all! With three goals in stoppage time - scored by Jarell Quansah, Ibrahim Maza and Aleix Garcia - Laterkusen advanced to the round of 16.

However, two runs came to an end against FC Bayern Munich at the start of November. The Werkself lost a Bundesliga match against the German record champions for the first time in three years, and moreover, the 3-0 reverse on 1 November ended the incredible, 889-day-long record run of 37 away league games without defeat. History was made a week later, too - this time in a positive sense: after the Werkself claimed their first UCL win of the campaign at Benfica (1-0), the team thrilled the fans at the BayArena with a 6-0 rout against 1. FC Heidenheim, which provided all manner of stories, records and debuts. In the last of seven fixtures within three weeks, the outstanding Maza - who went on to be voted the Bundesliga November Rookie of the Month - scored his first senior hat-trick. The Werkself have also never won a home game in the German top flight by a bigger margin.

Following the final international break of the calendar year, the Werkself faced a packed schedule up until Christmas, which they started with a convincing 3-1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg. It meant they'd collected 22 of a possible 27 points since Hjulmand took over - never before has a Bayer 04 coach earned more points in his first nine league matches. The good form continued, even on the biggest stage in Europe. The Black-and-Reds travelled to English giants Manchester City, coached by Pep Guardiola and with the likes of star striker Erling Haaland in their ranks, and impressed with courage and quality to triumph 2-0. A delighted Hjulmand said after: "I told the boys I'm very proud of them. This team has so much potential, such great character."

Big games, great goals, team spirit

That was followed by a double-header against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal round of 16. While the league clash ended in a narrow 2-1 loss, the Werkself came out on top 1-0 in the cup and went through to the quarter-finals. Next up was a trip to FC Augsburg, where despite a dominant display with almost 70 percent possession and three efforts against the woodwork, Hjulmand's men were beaten 2-0. It was a different story in the Champions League, where a strong second-half performance earned a 2-2 draw. Character, reaction, team spirit - all of it was still right in these weeks despite the two unsatisfactory results. The Black-and-Reds then got themselves back on track results-wise with a 2-0 win over 1. FC Köln in the final home match of the 2025, with Martin Terrier impressing his coach, teammates, fans and the media alike when he opened the scoring in the 66nd minute with a scorpion kick. The Frenchman picked the perfect moment for what he called "the best goal of my career", as it ultimately set his team on their way to three points in the derby. Scorer of the second goal, Andrich, called Terrier's stunner an "amazing goal", while Hjulmand described a "magic moment". 

Bayer 04 ended the year on a high with a 3-1 win at RB Leipzig as they went into the winter break in third place with 29 points and 33 goals, which at this point made them the second-best attack in the league. Malik Tillman was asked by the media if he expected such a points tally and position at Christmas after the modest start to the campaign. His answer was short and to the point: "To be honest, yes." The explanation was equally clear: "Because I just believe in this team." Tillman and Co showed that belief to come from 1-0 down to beat Leipzig and inflict a first home defeat of the season on them. After Terrier had equalised, Patrik Schick scored to move clear of Dimitar Berbatov as the club's highest-scoring foreign player. The win was then sealed by 18-year-old Montrell Culbreath, who crowned his first-team debut with the final goal. With that he gave himself "the greatest Christmas present ever", as he said afterwards. In other good news, Axel Tape, Lucas Vázquez and Ezequiel Fernández all made their comebacks after a number of weeks on the sidelines.

So, the end of the first few months of the season and the calendar years brought plenty of positives with it. "I'm very proud of how the team have performed so far," said Hjulmand. And looking ahead, Rolfes summarised: "The first six months of the 'getting to know' are behind us. Now it's about getting the best out of the team. Our ambitions and our determination will remain high in the new year."

Part II will be published on Monday.