
The supporting programme for the double winners' final pre-season home match began well before kick-off, at the neighbouring Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Bayer 04's U19s welcomed Alemannia Aachen as part of Matchday 2 of the DFB Youth League - and defeated the visitors 5-2 in front of a top crowd of 670.
Meanwhile, indelible memories were captured next door all around the BayArena: Bayer 04 club members with a ticket for the season opener, who had secured one of the coveted timeslots in advance, were able to take their photo with the championship trophy and the DFB Cup.







Around half an hour before kick-off, Andre Schnura made a surprise appearance among the fans in the stands with his black saxophone, which had been made famous throughout the country since UEFA EURO 2024. The Leverkusen-born musician performed the Bayer 04 anthem live and got the crowd in the mood for the day’s sporting exhibition.

At the start of the warm-up for the match, in front of 28,395 spectators - a record number for a Bayer 04 season opener – a quartet of players received honours from the sidelines. Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz were handed their trophies by members of the Kurvenrat for being voted as part of the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 "Team of the Season". Wirtz also received the Leverkusen "Player of the Season" award - as voted for by members of the Werkself. In addition, Dennis Heinzmann from Bayer Giants Leverkusen congratulated the winners of this year's city cycling event. At the same time, the fans tried out the many activities and games on offer in and around the stadium.







After the warm-up and following a final team talk in the dressing room, the Werkself went out onto the pitch following one another, meeting with loud support from the fans in the stands. Before kick-off, one last honour was to be bestowed: Xabi Alonso received the kicker "Coach of the Year" award. And then it was time for the match. All the while, a chant from the stands that was unmistakable throughout the season opener could be heard: "Champions of Germany!"







While the Werkself prepared for the second half in the changing rooms, the players and coaching team of Bayer 04's women took to the pitch. Speaking on the stadium microphone, new head coach Roberto Pätzold said, among other things: "I was given a fantastic reception and the framework here at Bayer 04 is excellent. You can feel that it's a big club with a lot of success." He continued: "The team impressed me very highly. The players' willingness to perform is huge. We are working meticulously in training to win as many games as possible and offer the spectators great football to watch."






Regardless of the 1-1 final score (this way to the match report!), the 90 minutes were followed by a penalty shoot-out into the goal in front of the Nordkurve, which the teams had agreed on in advance for training purposes. Lukas Hradecky was the main protagonist of the shoot-out, saving three out of four penalties, while three of the four penalty takers netted for the Werkself - ensuring a successful end to pre-season preparations, with regards to the fixtures played.







Afterwards, all the Werkself players from both the men’s and women’s teams, complete with numerous members of the Löwenclub, handed out some signed footballs to the crowd, providing the fans with another, final highlight of this varied 2024/25 season opener.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.
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With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
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The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
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