
The Sunday edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger identified a winner in spite of the drawn result and that was the crowd: "At first sight, the 2-2 draw does not really help either of the two teams involved – and yet it produced a winner after a spectacular and highly exciting match: The crowd who were fortunate to see an unusually good match." And the author concluded with this assessment: "Bayer demonstrated that they can compete with one of the top teams like Leipzig and underlined the positive impression with an impressively battling performance."
The Sonntags Express praises the commitment of the Werkself playing with ten men: "Bayer did not give up when down to ten men in a repeat of recent impressive second-half performances. The just rewards followed on 73 minutes. It was down to Kevin Volland to round off this incredible game with an incredible finish. Bayer's best goalscorer scored the deserved equaliser at 2-2 with a volley from a scissors kick." And the Express also looks at the development of recent weeks: "After the 2-2 draw with Leipzig, the Werkself have now not lost in eight games. They continue to be unbeaten at the BayArena. Also it was the 17th game in succession with at least one Bayer goal."
The Bild am Sonntag emphasises that Bayer 04 were clearly the better side, above all in the final stages: "The game really got going. And how! Leverkusen launched attack after attack. With ten men? That doesn't bother us! Kevin Volland scored with a scissors kick on 73 minutes, how else? An incredible goal in an incredible game!"
And the Rheinische Post is also impressed by the phase of the match after the sending off: "There was real atmosphere in the game and not just in the stands. The Werkself were enraged and had a clear-cut double chance on 55 minutes through Volland and Havertz that did not produce the hoped-for leveller. It was Havertz again who had a shot blocked on 63 minutes. Spurred on by the supporters, Leverkusen pressed aggressively as rarely before and they succeeded in pushing Leipzig back deep into their own half despite being a man down ."
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung confirmed their assessment of the game that was shared by the Leipzig coach before the match: "Ralph Hasenhüttl, RB Leipzig head coach, spoke like a fan ahead of the game between the team in second and ninth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. ' If I was a fan,' he said,' then I'd go to this match.' Why? the Austrian football aficionado firmly believed that the BayArena on this Saturday would witness an offensive encounter with absorbing moves and impressive finishing."
The online edition of the Leipziger Volkszeitung (online) draws the following conclusion for the last half hour of the game: "The surprising consequence: In spite of being a man down, Bayer were so frustrated that they had the Leipzig defence wobbling. Hasenhüttl brought on Augustin in place of Keita, and Upamecano for the booked Orban. However, RB were unable to exploit the extra man and kept being caught out. The second equaliser from the hosts scored by Kevin Volland from a corner was absolutely deserved – and that was the final score."
Under the headline 'Volland has the last word in highlight film' the online edition of the Kicker declares: "Everything that this clash promised in advance came to be: There were a number of highlights in the test of strength between Leverkusen and Leipzig on Bundesliga matchday 12. One example: In addition to the four goals in the 2-2 draw there were chances, two penalties and a red card. In short: Bayer and RB provided the crowd with a real treat."

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-1 victory in the friendly match at Kickers Offenbach...
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It’s always nice having your best friends round for a birthday! Bayer 04 made a guest appearance at Stadion am Bieberer Berg as part of Offenbacher Kickers’ 125th anniversary celebrations, and nearly 1,500 Werkself supporters accepted the invitation to this historic venue, joining the Offenbach crowd in celebrating the more than 45-year friendship between the clubs. On the pitch, the Werkself secured a 3–1 victory in the friendly against the fourth-tier Regionalliga side. The Leverkusen goals were scored by Christian Kofane (38’), Jonas Hofmann (48’) and Afonso Moreira (81’). Keanu Staude had put the hosts ahead in the first half (11’).
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