The current infection rate, which acts as a guideline and basis for official approval for matches to be played with crowds, has risen continuously in Leverkusen and surrounding districts since the start of October. At the moment the city of Leverkusen is classified as a risk area as the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past seven days – known as the seven-day rate – has exceeded 50.
“It’s very difficult for us to have to manage without the support of our fans in the forthcoming crucial games. However, we want to and must play our part as an organisation and take responsibility as every other individual should do. We hope the trend not just in Leverkusen falls again as soon as possible,” said Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04.
Forthcoming Werkself fixtures:
FSV Mainz 05 v Bayer 04 (17 October, 15.30 CEST)
Bayer 04 v OGC Nice (22 October, 18.55 CEST)
Bayer 04 v FC Augsburg (26 October, 20.30 CET)
Slavia Prague v Bayer 04 (29 October, 21.00 CET)
SC Freiburg v Bayer 04 (1 November, 15.30 CET)
Hapoel Beer Sheva v Bayer 04 (5 November, 18.55 CET)
Bayer 04 v Borussia Mönchengladbach (8 November, 18.00 CET)
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
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