"Records don't interest me" – Patrik Schick, the most successful foreign striker in the club's history, talks about his outstanding season in a big interview: "Before the season, I set out to become unconditionally more effective in future. Everything I do on the pitch should make a contribution to the team. On top of that, I try to take a more simple approach to playing with just one or two touches of the ball and less dribbling. I'm basically trying to make my game quicker." The 26-year-old Czech also speaks about his targets with Bayer 04 and reveals some private insights.
Piero Hincapie has been extremely effective this season. The Ecuador international, signed by Bayer 04 in the late summer of 2021, has adjusted to the Bundesliga incredibly quickly and established himself straight away. In the Werkself Magazine, the 20-year-old talks about his route from Ecuador via Argentina to Leverkusen, the meaning of his surname and qualifying for the World Cup by the end of March.
The editors, together with five former colleagues, look at the unique contribution of Rudi Völler at Leverkusen. From beginning as a player in the middle of the 1990s, through his time as coach to his role as the sporting managing director. Peter Hermann, Reiner Calmund, Michael Ballack, Wolfgang Holzhäuser and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge all contribute. And, of course, the #RoadtoGlasgow story cannot be missed out: This edition covers the unforgettable Champions League games against Liverpool and Manchester United in early 2002.
There is also much more entertaining reading material such as a profile of Bayer 04 Women's player Verena Wieder and the two stadium announcers Petra Dahl and Tobias Ufer. Under the heading 'With the cross on their chests', Arne Larsen Ökland takes centre stage as the first Bundesliga striker and crowd favourite at Bayer 04.
You can also catch up with all previous Werkself Magazines at bayer04.de from edition one in the 2015/16 season.
Werkself TV shows highlights of the 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league...
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The Werkself beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg to claim a crucial victory in the Greek capital. After a focused first-half display with a number of presentable chances, Patrik Schick crowned a textbook counter to hand the Werkself the lead on the hour (60’). The Czech rounded off his brace when he headed in from a corner just 144 seconds later. Bayer 04 maintained their lead with aplomb to achieve a good position for the return leg in Leverkusen.
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Bayer 04 and Olympiacos had only met twice before the current UEFA Champions campaign. After the encounter on Matchday 7 of this season’s league phase, the Werkself travel to face the Greek side for the second time in just four weeks for the knockout play-off first leg. The Black and Reds were dominant for large spells in mid-January but lost 2-0 after missing a number of presentable chances. The Werkself aim to do better on Wednesday night to “seize the chance for revenge,” as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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A bitter end to the fifth showdown of the 2025/26 VBL Club Championship as the #B04eSports team failed to take any points in the three remaining matches of the preliminary online round of the fifth and final showdown, missing out on the offline round. They can no longer take points in the overall table. Bayer 04 slipped out on the top eight, so direct participation in the final event for the German Club Championship is no longer possible, with Bayer 04 having to contest the play-offs.
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