Edmond Tapsoba’s 22nd birthday moves into the background on this Tuesday with the focus being on the DFB Cup Round of 16 tie against RW Essen. After the job has been done and hopefully the best birthday present has been received – progress to the next round – then the team can raise a glass. Happy Birthday, Edmond!
We also send congratulations to Radoslaw Kaluzny, who played for Leverkusen from 2003 to 2005, and after that he signed for Rot-Weiss Essen, tonight’s opponents for the Werkself. Who will the Polish-born midfielder cross his fingers for on his 47th birthday?
Referee Daniel Schlager (31, banker) from Hügelsheim in Baden-Württemberg is in charge of tonight’s cup tie between the Werkself and Rot-Weiss Essen. Marcel Unger and Robert Wessel are assistant referees, Arne Aarnink is the fourth official. The video referees, who are used from the Round of 16 this year, are Tobias Reichel and Benedikt Kempkes.
Deutsche Telekom AG have extended their pay-TV rights option to the third division and the Women’s Bundesliga for another year to the end of the 2022/23 season. The company secured the rights in 2017 to broadcast third division games and top matches in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga on MagentaSport. That means selected matches involving the Bayer 04 Women will continue to be shown on the pay-TV channel.
Bayer 04 fans are again spoilt for choice: The club Facebook channel again provides the opportunity to choose the best Black and Red goal of the month – this time for January. Up for the vote are the goal scored by Nadiem Amiri against Eintracht Frankfurt, the goals by Dóra Zeller and Kristin Kögel from the Women’s friendly against Werder Bremen and the unmissable strike from Moussa Diaby against Borussia Dortmund. Here are all four goals to watch again. You can vote in the comments section.
He is the living club legend at Rot-Weiss Essen: Willi ‘Ente’ Lippens played for RWE from 1965 to 1976 and from 1979 to 1981. He made 449 appearances and scored 237 goals for Essen. Of course, he is crossing his fingers for his club in the cup clash. “It’s an away game for Leverkusen,” Lippens said to sid: “I can only advise not to be afraid, press high and put the opposition under pressure. And then we’ll see what happens.”
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
Show more
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
Show more
It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
Show more
