And then it's back onto the balcony in the South Stand – in front of the fans. A cardboard Meisterschale in hand, the stadium microphone amongst the group. Werner Wenning, Fernando Carro, Simon Rolfes, Xabi Alonso, Lukas Hradecky, Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka and Co. direct emotional words to the fans. And the party is in full swing.
Armed with plenty of cold drinks, part of the team storm head coach Xabi Alonso's press conference on the first floor. The Spaniard gets a soaking – but that's all part of the fun.
It's time to celebrate! The team toast the historic title win in the home dressing room at the BayArena. The mood is relaxed and beer is flowing! After that, it's onto the balcony in the South Stand at the BayArena – in front of the fans.
There's no holding back! A few seconds after Florian Wirtz makes it 5-0, the referee blows for full-time – and the fans stream onto the pitch from all sides. There are emotional moments between the players and the fans that will never be forgotten. There are floods of tears, warm embraces and full throated cries of celebration. We've done it! Bayer are champions of Germany!
The Werkself are champions of Germany with the brilliant 5-0 display including a Wirtz hat-trick. 29 Bundesliga games unbeaten, a 16-point lead over the rivals from Munich and Stuttgart. The Werkself have more than deserved to lift this title.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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