Matchday news #B04FCA: Events on family matchday - closure of A1 and Nobelstraße

Bayer 04 are unbeaten in the last seven league games. Against FC Augsburg, without a win in five games, the Werkself are looking to continue this run - ideally with a victory. But that's not the only thing fans can look forward to today Saturday, 18 April: Exciting activities in and around the BayArena await young and old as part of the family matchday. Anyone travelling by car should be sure to set off early, as the A1 between the Köln-Nord and Leverkusen junctions is completely closed, as is Nobelstraße in Leverkusen. Werkself fans not at the game listen to the expertise of a special guest on Werkself Radio. Today’s matchday news.

travel update: full closure of A1 and Nobelstraße

The A1 between the Köln-Nord junction and the Leverkusen junction is fully closed in both directions until Monday morning, 20 April. The Leverkusen Rhine bridge is also affected. Bayer 04 fans travelling by car from this direction should take a detour around that area. There will also be restrictions at the Köln-Niehl junction and at the Leverkusen-West and Leverkusen junctions. In addition, Nobelstraße in Leverkusen is fully closed. Further information on travelling to the stadium can be found HERE.

events galore – Schwadbud closed

For this match, everything in and around the BayArena is focused on the Black and Red family. In the run-up to the match, families were able to apply to be a banner bearer or part of the flag choreo on the pitch and watch the two teams run onto the pitch. On matchday, a range of activities such as a football rodeo or face painting for children as well as several bouncy castles and an eSports corner will make a visit to the stadium a real experience for Bayer 04 fans of all ages.

The Schwadbud on the east side of the BayArena is closed due to an internal event.

Image from previous family matchday in April 2025

Bayer 04 Fan Fabienne hoping for stem cell donation

As part of the regular collaboration between Bayer 04, Nordkurve12 and DKMS, the club is once again using its reach on matchday to support the donor recruitment campaign for Werkself fan Fabienne, who is hoping to find a suitable stem cell donor. This will take place on Sunday, 3 May, from 12:00 to 16:00 CEST at the Buffalo Movement fitness studio in Bergisch Gladbach. Further information on DKMS can be found HERE.

#B04FCA: match facts

The Werkself are now unbeaten in seven Bundesliga games in a row and can also remain undefeated for the sixth home game in succession. The team has particularly capitalised on transitional play: Bayer 04 have had the most shots on goal (43) and scored the second-highest number of goals (10) from counter-attacks in the league. In contrast, FCA have only picked up two points in their last five games. However, the two clubs have one thing in common: They always defend with discipline in the final quarter of an hour - the Black and Reds have conceded the fewest goals in the last 15 minutes (6), FCA the second fewest (8).

focus on fc augsburg

Despite their recent winless streak, FC Augsburg recently had TSG Hoffenheim on the verge of defeat and have already celebrated victories against Bayer 04 (2-0) and Bayern Munich (2-1). Following the return of captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, coach Manuel Baum can also draw on a full complement of players and once again impress with his team's intense, no-frills attacking play. The weaknesses the Werkself could exploit against FCA are shown in our lowdown on the next opponents.

Werkself Live

Are you fully prepared for the match against the Bavarian Swabians? You can be - with a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday magazine, which provides the most important facts and stats on the game in compact form, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively, the matchday flyer is also available digitally. This time on the XXL poster: Montrell Culbreath. Click HERE for the ePaper.

Unbeaten champion seats at the Fanwelt

Since 14 April, the day of the two-year anniversary as champions, Werkself fans have been able to secure their personal Unbeaten Champion Seat. Anyone still undecided or curious will have the opportunity to see and try out the seats and the corresponding oak chair frame at the Fanwelt in the south of the BayArena at the home game against FCA. Further information can be found HERE.

Love Letter LEV: Fan messages for semi-final

Next Wednesday, 22 April (kick-off: 20:45 CEST), Bayer 04 host FC Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the DFB Pokal. Anyone wanting to give the Werkself players a few personal words of motivation or express their emotions about this cup tie can show their support in the ‘Love Letter LEV’. The book of messages from fans is available today on the south-east side of the BayArena next to Bismarckstraße.

Benjamin Brand is the ref

Benjamin Brand will referee the match against FC Augsburg. Bayer 04 have won eight of the previous eleven matches with the 36-year-old in charge. His assistant referees today are Thomas Stein and Marco Achmüller, with Timo Gerach in action as the video assistant referee.

Falko Götz on Werkself Radio

The clash with Augsburg will be shown as a single match on Sky Sport and streamed on WOW. As always on Saturday afternoons, DAZN will broadcast the conference with all matches taking place at the same time. The Werkself-Radio will of course also be live in the BayArena - this time commentator Niko Hartmann will be joined by former Werkself player Falko Götz. As always, the audio broadcast will begin half an hour before kick-off. As usual, the live text service will also keep you up to date so you don't miss any of the key moments in the match. Both Werkself Radio and the live text service can be found at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.