
Head coach Tayfun Korkut held a one-hour training session in the morning for his team at the Real Madrid training ground to go through final details for the second leg match at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. The mission is clear: The Werkself are looking to be the first team in the 24-year history of the Champions League to come back from a two-goal deficit away from home.
And anyone who saw the Bayer 04 players in the Madrid sunshine will have noticed that the team can hardly wait to get their chance tonight. To make amends for what happened at the BayArena three weeks ago and perhaps also for the game at the Calderon Stadium almost two years ago. Back then, Bayer 04 lost out to Atlético in the most deflating manner – on penalties.
Quintet still here
Tayfun Korkut has five players from the 2015 squad available for selection. IBernd Leno, Roberto Hilbert, Wendell and Karim Bellarabi join Julian Brandt who was on the bench two years ago. Ömer Toprak, Lars Bender, Hakan Calhanoglu and Stefan Kießling, who also played for Bayer 04 at Atlético, are sidelined on this occasion.
New haircut
Apropos 2015: Atlético did make it to the quarter-finals only to be beaten by local rivals Real Madrid. And who was responsible for that? Chicharito. The Mexican was playing for Real at the time and he scored the golden goal after a 0-0 scoreline at Atlético. Chicharito has a new haircut for his reunion with the team coached by Diego Simeone – even if it wasn't completely voluntary. Following a lost bet at the Super Bowl he was forced to have his hair cut as short as possible.
Fans on the road
1,200 Werkself fans have made their way to the Spanish capital and they were certainly in evidence. Black and red was to be seen along the Manzanares – at famous sites and in bars and cafés. We followed a group this morning and try to find out what's the fascination about the Estadio Vicente Calderon. Erik said: "The Calderon is a cult venue and before it's torn down we definitely want to enjoy the fantastic atmosphere here once again."
The Calderon: Legend and fortress
If the Werkself should actually achieve the miracle and beat Atlético then Bayer 04 would be the last team to play at the Calderon in the Champions League. The Rojiblancos have decided to move to the east of the city at the end of the season and this revered temple of football will be demolished in the summer. For Simeone's team, the Calderon has always been a fortress with only one defeat in the last 20 games in Europe's premier club competition.
Live on ZDF
"Every second counts" from 20.45 CET as Tayfun Korkut declared. For all fans unable to be in Madrid: Both ZDF (free TV) and Sky (pay TV) are broadcasting the match live tonight. There is huge media interest with over 492 members of the press accredited. All Bayer 04 fans can also follow the Live app with information and stories about the game from two hours before kick-off. Under the hashtag #AtletiB04 there is everything you need to know on the social channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.


A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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