Back
17.04.2021Bayer 04

News in brief: BayArena Aktuell for the derby – Happy birthday, Charly!

The Werkself play the rivals from across the Rhine for the 66th time in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 17 April. The clash with FC Köln kicks off at 18.30 CEST and the game will be broadcast live on Sky and Werks11 Radio. As with every home game, the new BayArena Aktuell match magazine is available online. That and much more in Saturday’s news in brief.
Bayarena_Aktuell_FC_Koeln_2021.jpg

Bayer 04 supporters will be happy to recall 16 December 2020 when the Werkself held on to top spot in the Bundesliga with a brilliant 4-0 away win at FC Köln. It was the 25th win in the 65th meeting with the Goats in the top flight – with 24 games ending in draws. Werkself head coach Hannes Wolf is set to experience his first derby with Bayer 04.

Interesting facts and stats on #B04KOE are available in the brand new BayArena Aktuell along with other exciting news from the Black and Red world plus an interview with midfield dynamo Exequiel Palacios.

HERE is the online matchday magazine BayArena Aktuell.

A first for Aránguiz

Saturday is not only really special because of the derby for Charles Aránguiz: Our number 20 celebrates his 32nd birthday and he could be leading the team out for the first time against FC Köln since being appointed captain at the start of the campaign. The Chilean missed the 4-0 win in the first half of the season due to injury.

Storks refs #B04KOE

The match officials for the derby have been confirmed: The clash with FC Köln on Saturday night will be refereed by Sören Storks. His assistants are Thorben Siewer and Thorsten Schiffner. Daniel Siebert is the VAR referee in the studio in Cologne.

Seifert: Season suspension not on the agenda

DFL CEO Christian Seifert has initially ruled out a suspension of the Bundesliga season in spite of several coronavirus cases at Hertha Berlin. The Berlin team are currently in self-isolation and will not complete their next three fixtures. The German Football League (DFL) is not currently considering the suspension of the season, the 51-year-old reported on Bild live.

“It’s clear we have time to end the season in the normal way with matters being settled on the pitch rather than in committee rooms,” said Seifert. “If we see the season looks different in two weeks then we’ll reconsider the position.”

The release period for the Euros starting on 11 June begins on 31 May and there could be problems with the schedule with more rearranged Bundesliga fixtures. The final matchday in Germany’s top flight is on 22 May.

Helmes the Aachen new coach

The former Bayer 04 player Patrick Helmes will take over as the head coach of Regional League side Alemannia Aachen for next season. The 37-year-old has agreed a long-term deal and he replaces the interim coach Kristoffer Andersen.

During his career the Cologne-born striker played for the Werkself from 2008 to January 2011. Helmes made 57 Bundesliga appearances and scored 28 goals in that time. After retiring in 2015, the 13-time international became a coach.

Up to now, Helmes has coached the FC Köln second team, Rot-Weiß Erfurt and most recently the Austrian Bundesliga team FC Admira Wacker Mödling. Between the jobs in Erfurt and Austria he was a youth coach at Bayer 04.

Related News

BayArena erstrahlt lila
Social Commitment - 03.12.2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - BayArena lights up purple

The United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated worldwide on 3 December. Together with Bayer AG, Bayer 04 is once again setting an example for diversity and inclusion by lighting up the BayArena in purple in the evening.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #BVBB04
DFB-Pokal - 02.12.2025

Matchday news #BVBB04: Over 7,000 fans in Dortmund - getting there early is strongly advised

For the second time in four days, Bayer 04 face Borussia Dortmund this Tuesday evening, 2 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET) - this time in the round of 16 of the DFB Pokal, with more than 7,000 fans supporting the Werkself at Signal Iduna Park. After the recent 2-1 defeat to BVB in the league, several cup stats provide hope of revenge for the Black and Reds. There are several reasons why Bayer 04 recommends getting to the round of 16 clash early, in which VAR will be in use, unlike in the previous rounds. Read on for further information on tonight’s game in our matchday news.

Show more
Die PK vor dem Pokalspiel in Dortmund | Achtelfinale DFB-Pokal
Werkself-TV - 01.12.2025

Hjulmand ahead of #BVBB04: ‘Expect another tight game’

Just three days on from the Bundesliga meeting in Leverkusen, Bayer 04 now visit Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal on Tuesday (21:00 CET). Ahead of the game at the Signal Iduna Park, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about how to approach this second encounter in 72 hours and a number of developments within the squad.

Show more
Werkself come up short 2-1 to Dortmund | 12th matchday
Werkself-TV - 29.11.2025

TV highlights of 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 12 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

clubExklusivExclusive content Become a club member