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
This afternoon, Saturday 24 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET), Bayer 04 host SV Werder Bremen, who are winless in their last seven league games. Nevertheless, in their last outing, a 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, where they conceded a late equaliser, the Green and Whites did show their team spirit. The Werkself, led by birthday boy Patrik Schick, will be looking to counter this and secure their first three points of the new year on this ‘!Never Again’ remembrance matchday to commemorate the victims of National Socialism. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
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Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 win at 1. FC Union Berlin on the 15th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Despite a severely depleted squad and being a player down, the Bayer 04 Women made a winning start to their 2026 campaign. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 2-1 at newly promoted FC Union Berlin on Friday night thanks to a last-minute goal. Vanessa Fudalla scored from a direct free-kick (78') and Kristin Kögel (90+2’) in stoppage time for the Werkself, who were reduced to ten players on 68 minutes, on an atmospheric stage at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. As a result, the Black and Reds are now fifth in the table for at least one night at the start of matchday 15.
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The Werkself are looking for the first win of the new calendar year: Ahead of the sold-out Bundesliga home match against SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about taking chances, possible winter transfers and a “Lion" returning to the Leverkusen matchday squad.
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