
There is something special in store for the most loyal of loyal Werkself fans at Saturday’s season launch at the BayArena: The 2,500 season card holders, who watched all the competitive games at the BayArena last term, in a for a special surprise. As a thank you, Bayer 04 are giving those fans a personalised ‘loyalty scarf’ available at a stall on the piazza by the West Stand (next to the police station). CEO Michael Schade, right back Danny da Costa and fan liaison officer Rüdiger Vollborn will call in there at 13.45 CET on Saturday afternoon to join Bayer 04 staff in handing out scarves to the most loyal fans.
“We have identified the 2,500 or so fans who we want to give this gift to reward their loyalty,” explained Meinolf Sprink, fan and community director at Bayer 04. Those Werkself season ticket holders, who were at all of the home games at the BayArena last term but are unable to be at the stadium on Saturday due to holidays or other reasons, will be able to collect their loyalty scarf at the first Bundesliga home game against Hamburg SV on 10 September.
Lots of highlights and attractions
In addition to the sporting highlight of the friendly against Real Sociedad (14.30 CET), the mega autograph session (17.00 CET) or interviews with Michael Schade and Rudi Völler (at half-time in the Sociedad game) or Roger Schmidt (16.20 CET) plus the numerous fun activities on the concourse, there is another good reason to get to the BayArena on Saturday from 12.30 CET: The new Benedictine beer garden will be opened in the north west area of the stadium by E block.
New beer garden worth a visit
In future, the beer garden will be open on home matchdays two hours before kick-off providing fans with a special range of food and drinks. In addition to tasty specialities such as Fleischkäse meatloaf or spit roasts there will refreshing wheat beers on offer from Bayer 04 partner Bitburger. Around 200 seats will be available for people to meet up to discuss the game. And not only before matches but also at half-time and up to two hours after the final whistle. A DJ will also be on hand to spin the discs in the beer and fulfil requests from music lovers where possible.


The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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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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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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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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