The teams once met in the round of 16 of the 2006/07 UEFA Cup. Bayer 04 won the first leg 3-0, but despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg, the Werkself progressed to the round of 16. Current sporting director Simon Rolfes and club representative Stefan Kiessling played in both games.
A curious feature of the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens is that it is one of the few arenas where the home 'end' with the most loyal and loudest fans is located along the touchline and not, as is usually the case, behind one of the goals.
The friendly match will be streamed live in the Bayer 04 app as well as on the club's own YouTube channel and on Werkself-TV (German commentary only). ServusTV and DF1 will also broadcast the match live. In addition, the Bayer 04 live ticker (German language only) will keep you up to date so you don't miss anything of the match. Werkself-Radio will not be broadcasting.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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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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