
The weekly series covers the five big Bundesliga clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia Schalke 04, Bayer 04, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Köln.
Nowhere else in Germany has such a high concentration of football fanatics and such rivalry between the clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia. Although increasing commercialisation in football is often complained about: The attraction of the five Bundesliga teams in NRW remains unbroken. However have they achieved that? What is special about the clubs that the fans get on board a helter-skelter of emotions each season? WDR television investigates this question in their five-part documentary series 'Mein Verein'. After Schalke 04 with the first club shown in the series last Sunday it is now the turn for Bayer 04. The title of the programme, broadcast on Sunday on WDR between 21.45 and 22.30, is entitled 'the Werkself?'. The trailer text says: "The documentary goes in search of the last real works footballers, meets the club bosses from yesterday and today, fan from Leverkusen but also from Moscow and Mexico. And: A club legend who is researching the history of the club that apparently does not have one. One question is permanently in the air: Bayer 04 – a cool marketing instrument? Or after 40 years since promotion to the Bundesliga on the way to being a big club?"
In the broadcast we hear from the CEO Michael Schade, sporting director Rudi Völler, fan liaison officer Rüdiger Vollborn and comedian Wilfried Schmickler, a committed Werkself f who grew up in Leverkusen.

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
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