Bernd 'Schnix' Schneider, Ulf 'the Schwatte' Kirsten and Co. will mingle with the fans from 09.30 CET. The two club legends are amongst the 40 players chosen as Bundesliga All Stars by Werkself supporters in an online vote. They have been invited to Leverkusen by the club on that weekend to celebrate promotion to the top flight in 1979.
The legends together with the promotion heroes of 1979 will provide a special addition to the Bundesliga game against Schalke on the Saturday and on Sunday they will be available to sign autographs, pose for selfies and talk to the fans. Some of them will also put their boots on again. There will be a Bundesliga All Stars game at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 10.00 CET with club legends on both sides.
Up to 15.00 CET fans can take a trip down memory lane with legends, look round the BayArena and enjoy the great range of events for young and old alike. Tickers (1 euro) for the 'Day of Tradition' are available now (www.bayer04.de, by phone on 0049 (0)214 5000 1904 or in person from the Bayer 04 shops).
The historic background: Bayer 04 Leverkusen finally achieved their target on 13 May 1979. A 3-3 draw against Bayer 05 Uerdingen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium secured promotion to Germany's top division for the team coached by Willibert Kremer. The Bundesliga 'adventure' started on 11 August 1979 with an away game at Bayern Munich. Bayer 04 have remained in the Bundesliga ever since – only the Werkself, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund can claim that.
A thrilling final but with no reward: the Bayer 04 U19s lost 5-4 to 1. FC Köln in the final for the German championship. Sergi Runge's side went into a commanding lead through goals by Artem Stepanov and Jeremiah Mensah, but the visitors battled back and turned it into a 4-2 lead before half-time. Leverkusen then showed their own comeback qualities in the second period, with Francis Onyeka and Kerim Alajbegovic restoring partiy, but Luis Stapelmann snatched the winner for Köln late on.
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They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
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Bayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
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The Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
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