The first leg of the play-off is the first meeting of Bayer 04 and AS Monaco in the UEFA Europa League. The previous six matches were in the UEFA Champions League in 1997/98, 2014/15 and 2016/17. The Werkself only won one of the six games against Monaco in Europe's premier club competition (two draws, three defeats) but that was in the last game between the two sides in December 2016 (3-0).
Monaco have won four of their last six league games and most recently beat league leaders Paris St Germain 3-1 but the record against German clubs has not recently favoured AS: The last three matches against German opponents were all lost, most recently the two group matches against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in 2018/19.
Bayer 04 request everybody to arrive at the BayArena in good time to allow fans to get to their seats in time for kick-off and to avoid long queues at the turnstiles.
Anyone wanting to read key facts about the match against Monaco before the game should take a look at the new Werkself LIVE. The matchday flyer, providing important facts and stats on the clash in compact form, is available at the BayArena. The digital version is also available free of charge online. The flyer this time includes a large poster of Karim Bellarabi. HERE is the e-paper.
Like Bayer 04, with the 3-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim, AS Monaco go into the first leg at the BayArena on the back of a victory at the weekend. Monaco beat league leaders Paris St Germain 3-1 at home in the big match in Ligue 1. Aleksandr Golovin and captain Wissam Ben Yedder put the hosts two up early at the Stade Louis II. And the goal for PSG scored by superstar Neymar failed to put Monaco off course. Ben Yedder restored the two-goal advantage for the far superior home side just before the break. The team from Monaco could have secured an even bigger win if the PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had not made a number of outstanding saves. Further information on personnel, performers and problems at AS Monaco can be found in the lowdown on our next opponents.
UEFA have appointed Orel Grinfeld as the match referee for the game against Monaco. This will be the first time the 41-year-old Israeli has been in charge of a fixture involving the Werkself. Grinfeld will be assisted by his fellow countrymen Roy Hassan and Idan Yarkoni, and Roi Reinshreiber – also from Israel – is the VAR official.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at tonight's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick and Niko Hartmann. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss anything in the game. Both Werkself Radio and the live text updates can be found at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app – tune in.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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