What’s the latest news ahead of the home game against Mainz? What have the coaches said? And what’s new with the other Bayer 04 teams? The BayArena Aktuell match magazine (in German) is now online for the all the key information on the clash with Mainz 05.
Click HERE for the online edition.
Benjamin Cortus is in charge of today’s match at the BayArena. The Nuremberg-born referee has officiated in Germany’s top flight since 2016. Today’s game is his fourth involving the Black and Reds - the Werkself have won three and drawn one. His assistants are Florian Heft and Thomas Gorniak, the fourth official is Sven Waschitzki.
The secret has been out for a few hours now, Werkself fans finally know what the new home kit for next season looks like. “All in black” is the motto. Before Kai Havertz and Co. run out in their new kit today, you can get hold of the shirt from the online shop. Further information on the new kit is available HERE.
Ahead of the meeting with Mainz, Bayer 04 are again broadcasting ‘Spieltag – Die Show’. Joining in this time are André Ramalho (RB Salzburg) and Dario Kresic, who ended his playing career in the summer of 2017. The two guests are ideal candidates to analyse this match: The duo played for the Werkself and Mainz in the past – they were both in the Leverkusen squad in 2015/16. The broadcast starts at 15.00 CET and the show will be presented live by Mara on the Bayer 04 YouTube channel.
Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.
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After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.
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"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.
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