The German Football Association (DFB) have appointed Tobias Welz as the match referee for the game against Werder Bremen. The 45-year-old match official has been in charge of 15 games involving the Werkself with the Black and Reds picking up five wins, three draws and seven defeats. Welz is assisted by Benedikt Kempkes and Jonas Weickenmeier with Dr. Robert Kampka in the VAR studio.
Werder Bremen have only won one of their last ten matches against the Black and Reds (five draws, four defeats): There was a 3-1 win for the side from Bremen on matchday 26 in the 2018/19 Bundesliga campaign. The two teams drew both games when the two sides were last in the Bundesliga together in 2020/21. The overall statistics are in favour Werder Bremen with 36 wins, 35 draws and 25 defeats. Moreover: Since Leverkusen were promoted to the Bundesliga in 1979, Werder have not picked up more points against any team other than the Werkself (114, as against Hamburg SV with conversion to the three points for a win rule). Bremen have only scored more goals against VfB Stuttgart in that time (142) than against Bayer 04 (124).
Werder Bremen have made a good start to the season as a newly promoted club: The team under head coach Ole Werner are currently ninth in the table with eight points from the first six matches with the North German side also unbeaten on the road this season (two wins, one draw) – the same applied to Werder in the relegation season of 2020/21. Bremen have been on target up front with twelve goals in six matches but have also conceded eleven goals revealing a weakness in defence. Nevertheless, the Seoane team should be particularly focused in the closing stages: Werder Bremen have scored five of their eleven goals in added time. More information can be found in the lowdown on our next opponents.
Club legend Lars Bender will also be at the match against Werder at the BayArena. The former Werkself skipper will be named honorary captain a few minutes before kick-off. The 33-year-old made 342 appearances for the Black and Reds and was able to make debuts on the European stage in his time under the Bayer Cross in the UEFA Champions and Europa League. CEO Fernando Carro and sporting managing director Simon Rolfes will present the former midfield and defensive all-rounder with the honorary captain's pennant at 15.24 CEST. Black and Red fans have also planned a large-scale choreography in the North Stand.
Anyone wanting to catch up with information ahead of the game between the Seoane team and Werder can read the new Werkself LIVE. The matchday programme, containing key facts and stats on the meeting with the Werner team, is available throughout the BayArena. Alternatively it is online. Click HERE for the e-paper.
Anybody unable to watch the game at the stadium can follow the action on Werkself Radio. The audio broadcast of the match begins 30 minutes before kick-off. Live text updates are available as usual so you don't have to miss anything in the match against the Green and Whites. Both the Werkself Radio and live text updates can be found at bayer04.de as well as on the Bayer 04 app.
Major disruption is expected due to cancellation of S-Bahn services in and around the Leverkusen Mitte station. Up-to-date information is available at the websites of Deutsche Balm and the wupsi network.
From yesterday Friday 16 September, Tuesday night’s 2-0 home win against Atlético Madrid is available to watch on the club's video platform Werkself TV. The platform launched this summer covers all live streams of Bayer 04 teams, exclusive interviews, all press conferences as well as many other entertainment formats to give you a perfect overview of events in the world of the Black and Reds. Click HERE to watch the game between Bayer 04 and the Rojiblancos – tune in and enjoy again.
The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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The Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog, you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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“Say hello to the Werkself!” – With this request, Loïc Bade gathers everybody in front of his GoPro: Including team-mates like Ibrahim Maza, Lucas Vázquez, Aleix Garcia and Ernest Poku, or Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro, head coach Carles Martínez, or even the reception team at the Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land. In between, there are glimpses of the pool area and the Werkself’s team quarters. Enjoy!
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.
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