The first Bayer 04 players involved in this year's pan-European Championship were the Finns Lukas Hradecky and Joel Pohjanpalo, who was on loan at Union Berlin last season. The Eagle Owls faced Denmark in Copenhagen. However, the first match for Finland in a major football tournament was dominated by a shocking incident on the pitch.
The Danish world-class player Christian Eriksen collapsed a few minutes before the half-time whistle and he had to be resuscitated on the pitch. The midfielder with the Italian champions Inter Milan is now in a stable condition. Eriksen sounded the all clear himself from hospital saying "I feel better." Bayer 04 wish him a full and speedy recovery.
After an interruption of almost two hours, with the Danish players in contact with Eriksen, the game continued. Over the course of the second half, the two Leverkusen players played a decisive role on the pitch at the Parken Stadium: Pohjanpalo headed the opening goal on 59 minutes and a quarter of an hour later Hradecky saved a penalty from Denmark's Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg – to secure the three points. Finland held on to the 1-0 scoreline in the closing minutes. Russia are their next opponents on Wednesday, 16 June (kick-off:15.00 CEST)
Aleksandar Dragovic and Julian Baumgartlinger started the Euro 2020 finals exactly 24 hours after their teammates. The Leverkusen duo were with Austria in Bucharest for the game against Euro newcomers North Macedonia who proved to be a hard nut to crack. Attacking stalwart Goren Pandev equalised on 28 minutes after Austria full-back Stefan Lainer opened the scoring (18'). The two sides went into the break with a surprising 1-1 scoreline.
Dragovic did not reappear for the second half after suffering a cut from an elbow in the first 45. The 30-year-old, who will be playing for Red Star Belgrade next season, was able to enjoy the deserved victory from the sidelines. Michael Gregoritsch (78’) and Mark Arnautovic (89') sealed the first-ever European Championship finals win for Austria.
Good news: Baumgartlinger, sidelined for four months following a cruciate operation at the end of January, came on in added time. The 33-year-old took the captain's armband. A nice moment at the end of a successful Euro 2020 opening match for Austria. Baumi, Drago and Co. are back in action against the Netherlands on Thursday, 17 June (kick-off: 21.00 CEST).
The Czech Republic started the new Euro 2020 week against Scotland with the Werkself centre forward Patrik Schick in the line-up. Only a quarter of an hour had gone in the match in Glasgow when our number 14 had a great chance. But the Scotland keeper David Marshall made the save.
The Bayer 04 striker was clinical shortly before the half-time whistle: Schick converted a cross from the right with an excellent header to open the scoring on 42 minutes. And it got even better on this afternoon! Seven minutes after the restart, Schick saw that Marshall was a long way out of his goal. The Czech front man tried his luck from the halfway line and doubled the scoreline at 2-0 from almost 50 yards out – a stroke of genius.
His intention of, "supporting the team on the pitch with as many goals as possible", has been put into practice early on in the tournament by the Leverkusen forward. And one thing is certain: Schick will again be keen to score against the Croats on Friday, 18 June (kick-off: 18.00 CEST)...
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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Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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