In contrast to Alario, the Bayer 04 players in Leverkusen trained in the rain this morning in view of the BayArena. The Werkself stadium was lit up in purple last night – for an important reason: Bayer 04 were showing their solidarity with the doctors, nurses and parents of premature children at the Leverkusen Clinic, which the club has had a partnership with for many years. The BayArena was lit up from 17.00 to 22.00 marking yesterday's World Prematurity Day and was in good company with the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls.
Thanks to the 4-0 victory over Belarus, Germany are through to next years European Championship finals – now they are looking to win the group. Three points against Northern Ireland on Tuesday night (kick-off at 20.45 CET in Frankfurt, live on RTL) would see Germany reach their targets with the Werkself duo Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri on board. The other Bayer 04 pros in the Euro 2020 finals, Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria) and Lucas Hradecky (Finland), can be relaxed going into the final matchday of the qualifiers: Both Finland, who play Greece tonight (kick-off: 20.45 CET, live on DAZN), and Austria (Tuesday at 20.45 CET in Latvia, live on DAZN) are both set to finish second in their groups..
After coming on as a substitute for Germany in the game against Belarus, Luca Waldschmidt had to go off again just seven minutes later. The 23-year-old collided with the visitors’ keeper Alexander Gutor and today had to undergo an operation on a facial fracture. During the week, further investigations are to be made on an injured right knee and ankle. That means the second highest scorer for Freiburg, with four goals to date, will almost certainly be unavailable for the game against Bayer 04 on Saturday (23 November, kick-off: 15.30 CET) as will the suspended Vincenzo Grifo.
After a successful start to the season, the Werkself eSports player Kai 'Deto' Wollin announced the play-offs as the target for the season in his recent interview. The 31-year-old and his partner Fabian 'B04_DUBZJE' de Cae could pick up important points tonight: The duo, representing Bayer 04 in the Virtual Bundesliga (the VBL), play third from bottom FC St Pauli at 18.00 CET and league leaders VfB Stuttgart at 20.45 CET. Bayer 04 are currently seventh in the table.
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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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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