Wolf off to a flying start
The coaching staff including Hannes Wolf, brought in on loan from the Germany U18 team, have just eleven days to get the stumbling Werkself back on track for European qualification. In intensive and thorough training sessions, the 39-year-old coach tries to restore defensive stability to the team – with success. The first outing for Wolf against Schalke 04 is a success: Lucas Alario, and substitute Patrik Schick brought on for the Argentinian, secure the so important 2-1 win with goals number ten and nine respectively.
Derby winners
Defensive stability is also evident in the following matches against TSG Hoffenheim (0-0) and FC Köln. In the second derby win against FC Köln this season – the last time that happened was in 2008/09 – the scorers in the 3-0 victory were the in-form Leon Bailey with a brace and Moussa Diaby.
Although the hard-earned derby victory could not be celebrated by Bayer 04 fans at the BayArena, numerous Black and Reds supporters – while observing the coronavirus regulations and wearing face masks – get behind their team during the game from Bismarckstraße. That represents novel support from fans in challenging times. Thanks to the arena roof, Lukas Hradecky and Co. can celebrate with the fans acoustically from a distance.
Werkself in Europe
Wolf's unbeaten run with seven points from three games ends with a 2-0 away defeat at Bayern Munich. Three more games without defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1), Werder Bremen (0-0) and Union Berlin (1-1) secure European qualification for the Black and Reds with one game to play. The target of the Europa League is achieved.
An emotional finale
The Werkself are away to Borussia Dortmund on the final matchday at the Signal Iduna Park. As both teams have already achieved their targets in the league before the last game of the season, football almost takes second place in the 3-1 defeat for Bayer 04 against BVB.
It is a finale full of farewells. Referee Manuel Gräfe is in charge of his last match. BVB bid farewell to Lukasz Piszczek. And for Bayer 04, Lars and Sven Bender make the final appearances of their playing careers. After over 15 years of battle, passion and commitment, the defensive stalwarts leave the stage of professional football.
The fact that Sven Bender in his final match at his former club Borussia Dortmund makes way for his twin brother on 89 minutes, who was not supposed to play due to a knee injury, in what appears to be the emotional pinnacle of the game. But there was better to come.
Lars Bender versus Roman Bürki
Sven's twin brother Lars, who wore the Bayer 04 shirt proudly for twelve years, including five as captain, did actually manage to get on the score sheet. On 89 minutes, the Brannenburg-born defender grabs the ball and converts a penalty to score his last goal for Bayer 04 – BVB keeper Roman Bürki remains static out of respect for a great career as the ball goes past him into the back of the Dortmund net.
Following the rather academic match, the twins have weighty words for their departure. In his final TV interview as a professional footballer, given together with his twin brother, Lars shares an impressive message: “A football team is a symbol of what society should look like. Standing together, standing up for each other and having a common target. And it doesn't matter at all who is sitting next to you, what he looks like, where he comes from, which religion and views he has or his cultural background. Stand together. Refuse to be divided. That’s the message I'd like to pass on. That is what I take with me from my career.”
The seventh Bayer 04 honorary captain
Those words once again demonstrate: A really great football player and personality is saying goodbye. The management at the club have known for a long time what Leverkusen are losing in this player. And it is no surprise that Bayer 04 announce ahead of the final home game of the season that Lars Bender is the seventh Werkself honorary captain. That puts the 'Bavarian at Bayer' alongside Ulf Kirsten, Carsten Ramelow, Bernd Schneider, Simon Rolfes, Rüdiger Vollborn and Stefan Kießling. The presentation at the BayArena will only be made when supporters can return to the stadium. In the 2021/22 season.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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