Jonathan Tah has played every minute of the Bundesliga season to date. No question that the 25-year-old has developed into the undisputed boss of the defence since the start of the season. In last Saturday's second half of the season opener against Union Berlin the Black and Reds number four did not put a foot wrong again in defence and he secured a deserved point for the Werkself with his powerful headed goal on 84 minutes for the final scoreline of 2-2. In our eyes, he fully deserves his place in the football journal kicker German international players Team of the Matchday. Congratulations Jona.
Sky commentator Marcus Lindemann was back on the microphone. The 56-year-old commentated on the clash between the Werkself and Union – it was his first appearance after a long time out. Lindemann gave the reason for his absence over the last weeks and months the day before the match. In an operation, a facial nerve "came out in sympathy" and that led to the right side of his face being paralysed. Lindemann is however hopeful that the situation is temporary. Welcome back.
One day after the clash with the Irons, the first team players in the starting line-up had a recovery session while the other players came together for normal training on pitch one. There was no training on Monday with preparations for matchday 19 beginning tomorrow on Tuesday: The team under head coach Gerardo Seoane are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 15 January. The kick-off against the team placed twelfth in the Bundesliga at Borussia Park is at 18.30 CET.
Edmond Tapsoba will not be available for the clash with the Foals. The Werkself central defender is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sunday night saw Burkina Faso start the tournament with a 2-1 defeat against hosts Cameroon – without Tapsoba. The 22-year-old was not in the squad for the West African side. The next match in Group A is set for Thursday, 13 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET). That game is against Cape Verde. The final match of the group stage for Burkina Faso is against Ethiopia on Monday, 17 January (kick-off: 17.00 CET).
Tapsoba’s Bayer 04 teammate Odilon Kossounou is also at the African tournament with the Ivory Coast. The summer signing starts the tournament with his national team on Wednesday, 12 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET) against Equatorial Guinea. The Ivorians in Group B also face Sierra Leone (16 January) and Algeria (20 January). All matches in the Africa Cup of Nations are being broadcast on the streaming service DAZN.
Not a new signing but a new name nevertheless in the Bayer 04 Women's squad: Goalkeeper Frederike Abt married recently and is now called Friederike Repohl. The 27-year-old joined Leverkusen from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer. Congratulations on your marriage, Rike.
The new calendar year for the Bayer 04 eSports players starts with an extra special clash: Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ de Cae and Co. have a rearranged fixture on Monday night in the VBL Club Championship against FC Köln. The derby on matchday 11 in December was postponed.
The Werkself eSports players are currently seventh in the VBL CC and the rivals from Cologne are two places behind with three points less. The match kicks off at 18.00 and the rearranged fixture will be broadcast as usual on the Bayer 04 club Twitch channel.
Eastern Germany's most successful talk show celebrated an anniversary last Friday night – the MDR production of Riverboat had its 30th anniversary. Leverkusen sporting managing director Rudi Völler was one of many VIP guests. In an extensive interview with comedian Matze Knoop, the 61-year-old talked about his first matches as a football player in the German Democratic Republic and what he spent his first wages on back then.
The whole broadcast of the anniversary Riverboat – Talk show is available HERE. The interview with Völler starts at 1 minute 47.
Sofie Zdebel is up for the Goal of the Month award for February on ARD-Sportschau. Fans have until 21 March (19:00 CET) to vote for the Germany U23 international's volley to make it 2-0 in the Bayer 04 Women's derby against FC Köln (2-1).
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are further expanding their partner network: The feed manufacturer PerNaturam is an official sponsor of the Bayer 04 Womens team. The partnership opens up a wide range of opportunities for the company to position its brand in the Bundesliga environment.
Show more
Do you dream of wearing the Bayer cross on your chest? To play in black and red like your role models Loreen Bender, Cornelia Kramer, Kristin Kögel and co. from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga? Then take your chance now! Our female youth teams are once again on the lookout for new talent. That's why Bayer 04 are organising a talent day on 12 April 2026 for the first time this year with trials for female juniors.
Show more
Bayer 04 were on the brink of victory against Arsenal in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, but conceded a late goal to make the final score 1-1. After an even first half, Robert Andrich gave Leverkusen the lead with a header on 46 minutes. The Werkself then defended with discipline and gave little away until just before the end when the Gunners equalised with Kai Havertz converting a penalty (89').
Show more
Arsenal, one of the favourites in the UCL, visit the BayArena for the first leg in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16. Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie, two long-serving Bayer 04 players, are set to return to the BayArena for the first time since leaving the club. As part of the match against the Gunners, fans can look forward to exciting Sound of Dreams festival activities at the stadium. Club members can also secure another SoD Unplugged ticket for a chance to win a special prize. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
