The Werkself have played 53 games in the Europa League to date with 29 wins and 103 goals scored – that is more than any other German club in this competition in all three categories (excluding qualifiers).
Bayer 04 have played two of those matches against today's opponents from Hungary: The Werkself beat Ferencváros 2-1 at home in the opening fixture of the Europa League group stage in 2021/22. After the Hungarians took an early lead through Ryan Mmaee (8'), Exequiel Palacios levelled the scores with a fine shot into the top corner before half-time (37'). Florian Wirtz netted the deserved winner for Bayer 04 in the second half (69'). The second leg at the Groupama Arena in Budapest ended in a 1-0 win for Ferencváros with the goal scored by Aissa Laidouni (82'), now playing for Union Berlin, but Leverkusen were already confirmed as the group winners before the match.
Bayer 04 requests 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.
Bayer 04 will have to manage without two players in the first leg against Ferencváros: Both Robert Andrich and Exequiel Palacios are sidelined today due to one-match bans. Both were booked in the second leg of the play-off in Monaco and, as the yellow cards from the Champions League ties (Andrich four, Palacios two) are carried over to the Europa League, head coach Xabi Alonso will have to manage without the two holding midfielders. All previous bookings are expunged after the quarter-finals.
Ferencváros are undisputed league leaders in Hungary. With a 14-point lead over second placed Kecskemeti TE, the Green and Whites are on course for their 34th league title. It would also be their fifth in succession. The club have not lost in the league for thirteen games although they have only won one of their last four matches (three draws). The team under Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov could only manage a 1-1 draw last weekend against seventh-placed Mezökövesd-Zsory SE. After taking an early lead through striker Adama Traoré, the visitors levelled in the first half. More on the personnel, performers and problems for the Hungarians can be found in the lowdown on our next opponents.
Anyone wanting to read key facts about the match against Mainz 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 e-paper is HERE.
UEFA has appointed the Italian Davide Massa as the referee for the match against Ferencváros. This will be the third time in the Europa League that the 41-year-old has been in charge of a game involving the Werkself: Massa previously refereed the goalless draw at FK Krasnodar (Round of 32 in 2018/19) as well as the 2-0 defeat against Young Boys Bern (Round of 32 in 2020/21). Massa's assistants are his fellow countrymen Filippo Meli and Stefano Alassio with Marco Di Bello in action as the VAR official.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick and Niko Hartmann with former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz joining him for the second half. 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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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