The Werkself squad will meet up at the BayArena around two and a half hours before kick-off for the 45-kilometre journey heading north on the team bus to Velbert. After an intensive week on the training ground at the BayArena, the match against the Zebras a few days ahead of the training camp in Salzburger Land is the first friendly of the preseason.
The team under head coach Gerardo Seoane will wear the new home kit in this opening match. At the start of the partnership with the new kit supplier, Bayer 04 and the top British brand Castore have come up with a special idea: Inspired by the Black and Reds supporters, the new shirt is based on the popular fan song 'Leverkusen allez' (Link to online shop). The Werkself goalkeepers will wear the new green goalkeeping shirt in the game against MSV
Anyone wanting to support the Champions League participants from Leverkusen in Velbert can buy tickets for the match at the IMS Arena from 13.30 CEST. The tickets cost €8 standing (concessions €6) or €13 for a seat, there are no additional matchday charges. All proceeds from the friendly go to SSVg Velbert.
Any fans unable to get to the match can watch the friendly against the Zebras live on the Bayer 04 official YouTube channel. Niko Hartmann, one of the voices of Werkself Radio, is the commentator on duty.
A look at the current Duisburg squad reveals that four players were at Bayer 04 in the past. While centre-forward Aziz Bouhaddouz only played for the Black and Reds in 2013/14, another current MSV trio came through the youth ranks at the Werkself: Chinedu Ekene (2006 to 2018), Kolja Pusch (2005 to 2013) plus Marlon Frey.
The latter join Leverkusen at the age of seven 2004 and went on to play in the Bundesliga. The versatile defender was at Bayer 04 for a total of 14 years – including a 12-month loan spell at FC Kaiserslautern. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 26-year-old talked about his commitment to the Werkself and friends for life from his time in Black and Red ahead of the game against his former club. Here is the interview.
There is an attractive programme of events with lots for children and whole families to do from noon around the IMS Arena. That includes a bouncy castle, food and drink and the Bayer 04 mascot Brian the Lion – there will also be plenty on offer off the pitch as part of the friendly between the Werkself and the Zebras.
Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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