Nobody wants to get used to it. After almost eleven months without spectators at the BayArena – apart from 6,000 at the game against RB Leipzig – it’s still painful to see empty stands. Although Werkself fans cannot be physically present they are there in spirit. And that is evident from a massive support banner in the East Stand.
Several months in the open air and the winter weather of recent weeks have made their mark. Therefore, the club management decided to replace the banner and include top sponsors in the new one. That happened in the run-up to home game against VfL Wolfsburg. The message remains the same: ‘We for you – you for us!’ That applies to the fans and partners of the Werkself.
Under the maxim of ‘Your support for the Werkself’, all fans of the Black and Reds were asked in the spring of 2020 to send in photos for the banner and thereby, in spite of games behind closed doors, bring a little Black and Red feeling and support for the Werkself into people’s homes. Around 3,500 fans followed the call and took part.
Latest info before the match, facts on #B04WOB and other Black and Red news to get fans in the mood for the game. Also, new signing Timothy Fosu-Mensah talks about his first days under the Bayer Cross, his communication with the team from the Netherlands plus English and his playing style. “The team like playing with the ball and having lots of possession. That suits me and I’m happy about that,” said the 23-year-old.
HERE is the digital matchday magazine.
Referee Marco Fritz is in charge of the Werkself game against the Wolves on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 15.30 CET). For Bayer 04, it will be match number 18 officiated by the 43-year-old banker from Korb in Baden-Württemberg. The Werkself have won eleven times, three games ended in draws and there have been four defeats. The assistants on the touchlines are Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim. The fourth official is Thorben Siewer and the VAR duo are Markus Schmidt and Christian Leicher.
Two former Bayer 04 players celebrate their birthdays today. Thomas Brdaric, at the Werkself from 1999 to 2003 including loan spells, is 46. At the start of the season he took over the helm as coach at Albanian top-flight club KF Vllaznia. Also one year older, at the age of 69, is the former Bayer 04 head coach Reinhard Saftig. Saftig was in the dugout at Bayer 04 for 77 games and he led the Werkself to the DFB Cup final in 1993. Bayer 04 wish both a very Happy Birthday.
There will plenty of action at the BayArena when Bayer 04 and SC Freiburg, the two most competitive teams in the current Bundesliga campaign, meet this Sunday, 26 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The A59 autobahn will be closed to traffic. Thirteen fan clubs will be honoured for their long-standing commitment during the half-time break. Matchday news brings you the latest information on today’s home game.
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With twelve points from the six matches in the online preliminary round of showdown one, the Leverkusen eSports players have made a successful start to the 2025/26 VBL Club Championship campaign. They finished eleventh in the table and made it through to the offline knockout round of the first showdown, where they will first face FC Schalke 04 in the Round of 16 on Sunday, 26 October (from 15:15 CET/live on the VBL Twitch channel). The latest information on their opponents and possible further adversaries.
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After a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign, SC Freiburg have long since bounced back. Coach Julian Schuster's team are unbeaten since the end of August and got a confidence boost on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League for their next challenge at the BayArena this Sunday, 26 October (kick-off: 15.30 CET).
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The Bayer 04 Women have made good use of the international break. In stormy weather, the Werkself beat top-flight Dutch team NAC Breda 8-1 in a friendly on Thursday afternoon. Caroline Kehrer (5’/18’), Paulina Bartz (15’), Valentina Mädl (38’/69’/79’) and Vanessa Fudalla (53’) scored for the Leverkusen side.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without captain Friederike Repohl for the next few weeks. The 31-year-old keeper, who has played in six matches this season, suffered a muscle injury to her left thigh in training.
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