Was it an own goal from the Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer or the first competitive strike for Mitchel Bakker? "I celebrated as if it was my goal," said the 21 year-old full-back with a wink of the eye. But what happened? We take a look back…
Saturday, 21 August 2021. 18.33 CEST. First home match of the season for the Werkself against Borussia. Third minute of the game. Bakker takes a chance from 20 yards out and strikes the ball towards goal. It hits the post and bounces off the standing leg of the Foal's keeper Sommer. And then the ball trickles over the line – 1-0, ecstasy in the stands at the BayArena.
The strike was initially deemed to be an own goal by Sommer but that changed on Monday: The DFL decided the goal was scored by the Leverkusen player. "I'm very happy about that and I'm glad I was able to help the team," declared Bakker whose mission on the day did not end at that point: He set up Moussa Diaby’s goal to make it 3-0 with a pinpoint cross for the Frenchman; with Nadiem Amiri’s goal at 4-0, he picked out Florian Wirtz who then just had to square the ball for the goalscorer.
"He had a big influence on the result against Mönchengladbach because he was involved in several goals. You could see his power and determination," said Bayer 04 head coach Gerardo Seoane in praising the defender. In terms of positional play, the 42-year-old added, "Mitchel still has to improve but that will come with experience. You can't forget he's still a young player and new to the league. It always takes a bit of time."
Bakker himself sees in the 4-0 victory against Gladbach, "that we have lots of quality in our ranks. I hope we can maintain this level and consistently produce good performances." Nevertheless, the Dutchman also has a critical view of the result. "It's clear," he explained, "there is room for improvement – regardless of how well you play. We have to continue to improve. We're working very hard on that in training every day."
With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
Show more
With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
Show more
The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
