
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.

Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
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Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
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