News in brief: Already more points than last year
The Werkself have already exceeded the points total in the 2020/21 season. That and more in Tuesday's news in brief.
Thanks to the 4-1 away win at SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Bayer 04 now have 55 points from 31 league games – more than in the whole of last season with three games left to play (52). That campaign ended in sixth place in the table and qualification for the UEFA Europa League.
Currently in third spot, with a three-point lead over the team in fifth position, the Werkself need more points in the end of season run-in to achieve the target of qualifying for the Champions League. The remaining three opponents are Eintracht Frankfurt (2 May), TSG Hoffenheim (7 May) plus the finale against SC Freiburg (14 May).
a day to remember: first time in Europe
An important milestone in the history of Bayer 04 was reached 36 years ago today: On 26 April 1986, the Werkself were away to Schalke in the final game of the season and were 2-0 down – not enough for sixth place and the first participation in the UEFA Cup. However, the team under coach Erich Ribbeck fought their way back into the game and earned a 2-2 draw. After the final whistle it was clear that Bayer 04 would take part in the UEFA Cup for the first time in the 1986/87 season.
The Werkself went out in the second round after two wins in the first round against the Swedish team Kalmar FF (4-1, 3-0): The games against the Czech side Dukla Prague ended goalless away and in a 1-1 draw at home.
Line-up before kick-off: The Werkself away to Swedish club Kalmar FF in the first round in the first UEFA Cup campaign.
The next season saw the massive achievement for the Werkself of winning the UEFA Cup on penalties against Espanyol..
in memory of Biskup
The former Werkself player Werner Biskup would have been 80 years old on this Tuesday. The defender moved under the Bayer Cross at the age of 20 from his hometown of Bottrop in 1962. Biskup played for the Werkself for three years: first in the Oberliga West (30 games, three goals), then in the Regional League West (66 games, four goals). After moving on to Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Köln he finally ended up at RFC Liège in Belgium where he ended his playing career in 1975 and he became a coach. Biskup passed away in July 2014 at the age of 72. Rest in peace.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 29.07.2026
Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd
In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 29.07.2026
2026 Season launch: The programme of events
The Werkself are finally back. On Saturday 8 August, Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign with their opening match. But there’s far more than just a double-header in store for Werkself supporters. True to the motto ‘One day. Two teams. One club’, the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium will be transformed into a world of excitement.
Show more
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026
LIVE from 14:50 CEST | Bayer 04 vs KRC Genk | Friendly
The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...
Football Academy - 28.07.2026
‘I wear my favourite club on my chest’: Kids’ press conference with Oermann and Berghoff
After the children from the Bayer 04 Football Academy grilled Janis Blaswich and Simeon Rapsch last week, another group of 20 young Werkself fans gathered at the BayArena press conference room on Tuesday afternoon, 28 July . This time, the kids directed their questions at Tim Oermann and Jonah Berghoff. Defender Oermann raved about his school days, whilst talented midfielder Berghoff revealed to the young footballers, amongst other things, who his favourite player is – and he is also at Bayer 04. To round things off, the pair naturally obliged with all requests for autographs and selfies.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026
Log on and watch live: Stream Werkself pre-season games
Bayer 04 are back on the pitch. Following the first training sessions, the Werkself play the first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 18. The match against Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg kicks off at 15:30 CEST in Monheim am Rhein. Fans unable to attend the match can watch head coach Carles Martínez’s first game in charge for free via a livestream at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app, as well as on Werkself.tv (exclusively for members). Just log on and watch the games live. All the other Werkself preseason friendlies leading up to the 2026/27 season will also be streamed live for free.
Show more
