The Werkself have gone out in all eleven knock-out rounds in Europe after losing the first leg at home. Hopefully that stat will change today.
The head-to-head favours Monaco: Bayer 04 have only won one of the seven previous matches against AS Monaco (2 draws, 4 defeats) – that was a 3-0 win in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2016/17.
AS Monaco continued their run in Ligue 1 at the weekend. The 2-1 win at Stade Brest was the ninth league game unbeaten on the bounce (7 wins, 2 draws). Clement made five changes to the team that played in Leverkusen. Further information Monaco is in our lowdown on the next opponents.
UEFA has appointed the Spanish referee Alejandro Hernández fir the match in the principality. This will be the first Werkself game with the 40-year-old in charge. His assistants are José Naranjo and Diego Sanchez Rojo with Guillermo Cuadra Fernández the VAR official.
As ever, Werkself Radio is available for anyone unable to be at the game. The audio broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick and Niko Hartmann. The live text update service will also ensure that you can keep up to speed with the game. Both Werkself Radio and the live text updates can be found at bayer04.de as well as on the Bayer 04 app – get on board.
A podcast tip for all Bayer 04-Fans: Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes has recently been a guest on the podcast ‘Mehr als ein Spiel’. The podcast series launched in the summer of 2022 by the DFB foundations Sepp Herberger, Egidius Braun and the DFB cultural foundation is dedicated to community affairs, socio-political and cultural aspects of football. Here is the latest episode with Simon Rolfes!
The former Werkself player Ramon Menezes will act as the caretaker coach of the Brazil team for the international fixture against World Cup semi-finalists Morocco on 25 March. That was announced by the Brazil Football Association CBF. The U20 coach of the record South American winners of the World Cup played for Bayer 04 in the 1995/96 season under his name at the time of Ramon Hubner. He made 15 Bundesliga appearances. The Brazil FA parted company with national coach Tite after losing to Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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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.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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