The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung assesses the draw against Schalke as follows: "Just one week after the sheer Sunday pleasure of the 6-1 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt, the daily grind returned for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The Werkself only managed a 1-1 draw against a courageous Schalke team... The draw keeps Leverkusen in fifth place. The dream of fourth place and associated qualification for the Champions League lives on to the last Bundesliga matchday when Bayer play in Berlin."
Bild am Sonntag reports: "Setback for Leverkusen – in the race for the Champions League. Everything was set up for the Bundesliga anniversary at the home game: Choreography, legends like Zé Roberto and Christoph Daum, the pros in specially produced retro shirts – and then only a 1-1 draw against Schalke!" The paper quotes Rudi Völler, managing director sport at Bayer 04, on the performance of referee Aytekin and the action by Schalke's Caligiuri against Julian Baumgartlinger on 77 minutes: "Herr Aytekin today decided to give a penalty whenever a Schalke player fell over in the penalty area. I think everybody in the stadium would have wanted him to look at the incident involving Baumgartlinger too."
The Express describes the impressive opening phase by the Werkself: "Bayer initially applied constant pressure against the background of the celebrations of 40 years in the Bundesliga in their smart retro shirts. Charles Aránguiz hit the bar on twelve minutes and Julian Brandt turned the rebound against the post. Aránguiz, Brandt, Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario missed great chances against a helpless Schalke team before Kai Havertz volleyed in his 16th goal of the season to finally create a 1-0 lead."
The Rheinische Post takes a look at the table ahead of the last matchday: "The situation in the table has become more complicated for the Werkself after the draw. Qualification for the Europa League is certain but fourth place and the Champions League appear to be more unrealistic ahead of the final day of the season. Borussia Mönchengladbach are in a better position as they have a superior goal difference than the Werkself (both on 55 points). Frankfurt are below but they have the game against Mainz on Sunday night (54). Wolfsburg in seventh place (52) only theoretically have a chance of making the top four due to their significantly worse goal difference."
Full-back Julia Mickenhagen is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the end of the season to join Bundesliga newcomers VfB Stuttgart. The 21-year-old’s contract with the club expires on 30 June.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-1 win at RB Leipzig on the 25th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Werkself need a win in their penultimate match of the season at RB Leipzig on Monday evening (18:00 CEST) to keep their hopes of third place alive until the final day. After Eintracht Frankfurt lost on Saturday, Roberto Pätzold's side can close the gap on their rivals to two points and leave it all to play for next Sunday.
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Werkself fans from across the New York City area gathered Saturday morning at Smithfield Hall in Manhattan to cheer on Bayer 04 in the club’s crucial Bundesliga showdown against VfB Stuttgart given the match’s big implications.
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In the next head-to-head clash for the Champions League places at VfB Stuttgart, Bayer 04 failed to follow up their impressive 4-1 win at home to RB Leipzig from the week before. After Aleix Garcia gave the Werkself the lead with their fastest goal of the season, the Swabians turned the game around and won 3-1, knocking Leverkusen down into sixth place. It leaves them needing a win at home to Hamburger SV and other results to go their way on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign in order to reclaim fourth spot. The Werkself Review has all the analysis and reaction from all those involved in an eventful encounter with VfB.
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