
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.


The Leverkusen eSports team played the remaining three of the six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg were among the teams with the highest goal threat, including two World Cup participants in their ranks. Although the #B04eSports players were defeated in the matches overall, nine points from the first three games last week were enough for Leverkusen to advance to the offline round in Berlin on 2 February.
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A decisive showdown awaits: The Werkself are aiming to progress to the play-off round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League with a home win against Villarreal CF on the eighth and final matchday of the league phase. Ahead of the match on Wednesday, 28 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the game, the possible return of Edmond Tapsoba and a statement from new signing Jonas Omlin in an exclusive interview with Werkself TV. Lucas Vázquez, for his part, spoke about his role on and off the pitch as well as tomorrow’s opponents, who he often faced in Spain with Real Madrid.
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For Villarreal CF, the match at Bayer 04 on Wednesday, 28 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), will be their last appearance on the European stage this season. The Spanish side, currently fourth in La Liga, are still without a win in the UEFA Champions League and, with just one point from their seven games so far, have no chance of making the play-offs. The 2021 Europa League winners can therefore play without any pressure at the BayArena and will be looking to bow out of the competition with a good performance. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will to have manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir. The Morocco international suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle before the AFCON final defeat against Senegal (0-1 a.e.t.).
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The VBL Club Championship 2025/26 continues. Tonight, 27 January (live on Twitch and on the Bayer 04 app from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports team will play the remaining three matches in the online preliminary round of Showdown Four. They are up against FC Kaiserslautern, SC Freiburg and the current club champions and Showdown Three winners RB Leipzig, with whom Bayer 04, club runners-up and Showdown One winners, shared some memorable moments, especially last year. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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