Bayer 04 against Bayern Munich is the second match against the current league leaders this season – the previous meeting with the top team saw the Werkself beat Union Berlin 5-0 on Bundesliga matchday 13 in what was the biggest Bundesliga victory to date this term.
Werkself coach Xabi Alonso made 117 appearances (nine goals) for Bayern Munich from 2014 to 2017 and now is facing his former club for the first time as a coach.
To help fans get to their seats in time for kick-off and to avoid long queues at the turnstiles, Bayer 04 again requests supporters arrive early at the BayArena.
Do a good deed at the home match: For the game against the current champions of Germany, Bayer 04 are calling for donations of food for the Leverkusener Tafel e.V. charity. Further information is available HERE.
At the two donation points in front of the access to Blocks B1/B2 and the entrance to the North West stand (E/F blocks) raffle tickets will be given to the people donating food. During the half-time break, ALEON Cases, a partner in the Bayer 04 Business Club, will raffle a signed cabin bag. This will also contain a voucher for a Bayer 04 shirt.
The winner will be able to claim the prize after the game at the Bayer 04 shop on the piazza (by the West Stand at the BayArena) on presentation of the winning ticket.
It is really no surprise that Bayern are in such good shape. They have few weak phases during a season. One came before the match against the Werkself in the Hinrunde. When Bayer 04 travelled to Munich, Julian Nagelsmann's team had not won in four games in succession (three draws, one defeat). That was followed by a 4-0 win against the Black and Reds and a sharp improvement in form. The record champions have been top of the table since matchday 13. And their stats are once again impressive: The table toppers have won eight out of their last nine games. The 3-2 defeat at bogey team Borussia Mönchengladbach in the middle of February this year was a one-off and the only defeat for FCB in the most recent 25 games (20 wins, four draws). Bayern still have a chance of winning three competitions following an impressive win over two legs against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (1-0, 2-0) and now they face Manchester City in the quarter-finals. They are also in the last eight in the DFB Cup with the tie against SC Freiburg on 4 April. further information on the personnel, performers and problems for FC Bayern can be found in the profile of our next opponents.
Anybody wanting to read the key information ahead of the game can take a look at the new Werkself LIVE. The matchday programme, containing facts and stats on the game, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively it is available free online. HERE is the e-paper.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Stieler as the match referee. This will be the 26th game involving the Werkself with the 41-year-old in charge. The assistant referees are Christian Gittelmann and Dr. Jan Neitzel-Petersen and Sören Storks is 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 – tune in
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
Show more
Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
Show more
Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
Show more
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
Show more
Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
Show more
