Bayer 04 are currently planning for an attendance of 6,000 fans at the BayArena on Saturday in accordance with the coronavirus prevention order issued by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and a current infection rate of 17.7 (as at 23 September). If the critical rate of new infections does not exceed 35 per 100,000 population on Friday afternoon, 25 September, then the plan remains in place as agreed by the club and the city council. Failing that, the match will have to be played behind closed doors.
Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04: “We are grateful for the cooperative and constructive approach shown to us by the mayor. In his role, he is responsible for all the citizens of the city and not just for football fans. As the organisers of this event, we have to accept a late postponement even though that does involve another economic risk for us. But we remain optimistic and hope we will be able to enjoy the Bundesliga atmosphere at the BayArena on Saturday for the first time in months.”
Leverkusen’s mayor Uwe Richrath: “After a long period of football games behind closed doors, it is important to me that Bayer 04 fans can finally return to the stadium. Unfortunately, the football stadiums will not be full again soon but it is a start. To avoid this being a one-off, we have to continue to adhere to the coronavirus prevention meaures. Bayer 04 fans can be proud of the discipline shown in the Covid-19 crisis and that includes people who have stood up for the less well-off.”
Health department head Alexander Lünenbach: “The management at Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH have presented a convincing hygiene concept for matches with crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. Provided we succeed in keeping the situation under control at the current level, there are no concerns about resuming matches with spectators. If, however, the number of cases significantly increases and a critical level is reached then the applicable coronavirus prevention measures will force us to act so that we are able to to deny admission of spectators to the stadium at short notice under those circumstances."
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
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The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
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