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.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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