Leverkusen play FC Köln for the 90th time. The record is slightly in favour of Bayer 04 (34 wins, 30 drawers, 25 defeats).
Moreover: While the Werkself have made the best start to the league in the club's history with 16 points from six games, the team from Cologne are having their worst ever campaign so far in the Bundesliga with just one point from six league games (one draw, five defeats). In addition, the Werkself have the equal best attack in the league with 20 goals scored (Bayern Munich also have 20) while FC Köln along with Mainz and Eintracht Frankfurt have the least effective attack with four goals so far.
Good news for all passengers on the ÖPNV network: Leverkusen Mitte station is back in action after a long period reconstruction. That will again make it easier for Bayer 04 fans to get to and from the stadium. Albeit the station is not accessible for everybody. Alternatively you can travel on S-Bahn 6 from Cologne/Düsseldorf to Chempark and then take a shuttle bus to the BayArena. All buses on this route take wheelchairs.
A survey on fan match travel is being carried out by Bayer 04 in cooperation with RWTH Aachen on Bundesliga matchday seven against FC Köln. The questionnaire is aimed at all spectators at the derby and is being carried out via an online questionnaire in and around the BayArena by students from RWTH. There will also be traffic censuses at different points. The travel survey is aimed at developing measures to make the matchday experience more sustainable. Participation on Sunday would therefore be of great significance for the maximisation of climate friendly travel. The questions are in part aimed at finding out which methods of transport Bayer 04 fans use to watch Werkself games.
A false start for the team from Cologne: FC Köln are currently bottom of the table with one point right at the other end of the Bundesliga than the Black and Reds. However, the current FC Köln form will not necessarily determine the outcome of matchday seven as derby games often prove to have their own rules. The Werkself with captain Lukas Hradecky will have to be ready for a tight match against a tough opponent who would definitely like to take their first three league points this term against Leverkusen. Further information on FC Köln can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
Anyone wanting to read key information before the game should take a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday programme, offering the most important facts and stats on the game in compact form, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively it is available free online. Click HERE for the e-paper.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Felix Zwayer as the referee for the clash at the BayArena. The 42-year-old match official has previously been in charge of 30 games involving the Werkself. His assistants are Stefan Lupp and Christian Dietz with Sören Storks in action as the VAR. Have a good game!
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann and Cedric Pick. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
Bayer 04 are through to the second round of the DFB Pokal after a 4-0 win at Sonnenhof Großaspach on Friday night. The game was paused after only 18 minutes due to a storm over the ground. After a lengthy delay, play resumed and Patrik Schick opened the scoring. Arthur, Christian Kofane and Alejandro Grimaldo made things more comfortable in the second half, as the fourth-tier side had two players sent off.
Show moreThere were no goals across 115 minutes of football between Bayer 04 Women and PSV Eindhoven in Friday’s friendly. Roberto Pätzold’s team played two 45-minute periods before an extra 25 minutes two days prior to heading to Rieden for their training camp. Their Dutch opponents were preparing for their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier in 12 days.
Show moreThe first round of the DFB Pokal takes Bayer 04 to Sonnenhof Großaspach on Friday. The amateur club have just gained promotion to the fourth-tier Regionalliga Südwest and kicked off their campaign with two impressive wins. Here’s all you need to know as Erik ten Hag makes his competitive bow as Werkself boss at the WIRmachenDRUCK Arena (kick-off: 6pm CEST).
Show moreAfter two months preparing for the new season, the Werkself play the first game of the 2025/26 campaign on Friday, 15 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST) away to SG Sonnenhof Großaspach in the first round of the DFB Pokal. Ahead of the tie against the team newly promoted to the Regional League South West, head coach Erik ten Hag talked about his approach to the knockout game and his soft spot for cup competitions.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen has a new Premium Partner in its ranks in Düsseldorf company LumenHaus GmbH. The leading provider of networked home energy solutions has initially agreed a one-year partnership with the Bundesliga runners-up to the end of the 2025/26 season.
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