In a repeat of the derby in the 2016/17 run-in, Werkself fans will welcome the team coach at the ground. The supporters will gather along Bismarckstraße from 13.45 CET to greet the Bayer 04 team bus on the final stretch into the underground car park at the BayArena.
We are all currently following the terrible events in Ukraine. For that reason, the derby matchday at BayArena provides the opportunity to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The Werkself will play in a cream-white special kit, and a large part of the proceeds will go provide support to Ukraine refugees in Leverkusen. The joint shirt campaign by Bayer 04, Barmenia and JAKO is one of many events on the derby matchday where the Werkself are making a clear stand against war and for peace. Here is an overview of solidarity events.
Sascha Stegemann has been appointed as the referee for today’s game. The 37-year-old has previously been in charge of two Werkself games in the Bundesliga. The record from as Bayer 04 perspective: 1 win and 1 defeat. His assistants are Mike Pickel and Marcel Pelgrim with Günter Perl as the man on VAR. Have a good game.
For the match against the club from Cologne Black and Red fans can catch up the key pre-match information with the help of Werkself LIVE. The programme is available at the BayArena – and the free digital version is online now. This season’s new matchday programme from Bayer 04 provides interesting stats and facts on today’s game. There is poster of Kerem Demirbay on the back. HERE is the e-paper.
Our neighbours from Cologne have only lost more games against a Bundesliga opponent in this century to Bayern Munich (21) and the Werkself (17). FC have lost ten times in the top-flight in Leverkusen during that timescale (more than against any other team) including the last three Bundesliga away games at the BayArena – may that continue…
Based on the current coronavirus protection order of the sate of North Rhine-Westphalia the capacity for the derby at the BayArena is 22,658 with no standing allowed. Spectators must wear a medical-grade face covering at all times – including in the their seats. The 2G rule applies. Further information can be found in the FAQs on home games.
Anyone unable to cheer on the Werkself at the BayArena can follow the action on Werkself Radio or on the live text commentary updates. Both the radio and text commentary services are available at bayer04.de and on the new Bayer 04 app – just log on.
German football mourns the passing of Jürgen Grabowski. The Eintracht Frankfurt legend (441 Bundesliga games between 1965 and 1980) passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 77. Rudi Völler, Bayer 04 sporting managing director, won the 1990 World Cup like Grabowski. The 61-year old said: “As a small Hanauer lad I used to stand outside Frankfurt’s ground and dote on that great player. Jürgen Grabowski was an idol for the Frankfurt fans and far beyond the Rhine-Main region too. My condolences go to Jürgen’s family and friends.”
Bayer 04 today congratulates for former Werkself head coach Roger Schmidt on his 54th birthday. After joining Leverkusen from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2014, the coach spent three years at Leverkusen. Schmidt was in the dugout for 125 games – more than with any other club to date. After working in China he is now in charge of the top-flight Dutch side PSV Eindhoven now second in the Eredivisie. Here’s to more success, Roger.
Hans-Joachim Wöhler was a player with Bayer 04 much earlier than Roger Schmidt. The 76-year-old played up front for the Werkself in the 1960s. Happy birthday.
Bayer 04 are away to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off on Thursday 26 November at 18:45 CET at the Maksimir Stadium. All the information on ticket sales.
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It wasn’t just on the pitch that there was cause for celebration around the Werkself’s 2–1 home win against SC Freiburg. Plenty of happy faces could be seen near the dugouts at half-time too. Once again, CEO Fernando Carro, alongside former striker and club ambassador Stefan Kießling, paid tribute to eight supporters’ clubs celebrating up to their 30th anniversary on behalf of Bayer 04.
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It was a match that will live long in the memory of everyone involved: The Bayer 04 U19s celebrated their seventh win in seven matches in the DFB Youth League preliminary round – and yet it was a very special victory indeed: in the 4–3 (1–1) win at VfL Bochum 1848, no fewer than five goals came in the final quarter of an hour. As the 90th minute approached, coach Patrick Greveraars’s side found themselves behind, but then fought back in true ‘Laterkusen’ style.
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Under Carles Martínez, the Werkself have so far proved unbeatable at the BayArena. The Spaniard has led his team to victory in all three of their most recent home matches – and, it's worth noting, without conceding a single goal. On Sunday, 18 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST / live on DAZN and Werkself Radio), current league leaders SC Freiburg will make the trip to Leverkusen, but will be without their top scorer. What's more, the Werkself have won all three of their previous home matches against the Black Forest club. With a goal, Patrik Schick could not only secure a fourth consecutive victory but also set a memorable record. Meanwhile, on what will be the ‘Health Day' at the BayArena, much of the focus will be on physical wellbeing. Today's matchday news.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
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