With famous attractions like museums, art galleries and historic sites it is no surprise that the Spanish capital Madrid is so popular. So why not combine the Champions League away match for the Werkself with a couple of tours around the multifaceted metropolis? weloveholidays offers Bayer 04 fans exclusive holiday deals for the match in Madrid – click HERE for further information. In addition, there are the following tips for optimum preparation for the away trip.
For people looking to get their step count up: Tourists and locals are to be found on the Puerta del Sol square in the heart of Madrid. It's the best place to discover the historic side of Madrid. From here you can reach the Plaza Mayor, another significant square, and the Plaza de España where famous skyscrapers and fountains await.
Real foodies get their money's worth at several markets in Madrid including the Mercado de San Miguel and the Mercado San Antón. Here there are numerous food stands you can visit to taste typical Spanish delicacies. Anyone who wants to experience the authentic Madrid lifestyle should definitely make their way through the Barrio de La Latina quarter with its narrow and winding side streets. Here there are countless tapas bars serving typical Spanish dishes.
For cathedral lovers: One of the biggest cathedrals in Europe is the Catedral de la Almudena. There are also lots of other churches and cathedrals to discover such as the Colegiata de San Isidro and the Real Basílica San Francisco el Grande, which has one of the biggest domes in Europe.
For palace fans: The Palacio Real is the royal palace in Madrid and a real feast for the eyes. This magnificent building is one of the biggest palaces in Europe and the residence of the Spanish royal family. Inside there are luxurious halls, ornate paintings and an impressive armoury. The wonderful Sabatini Gardens are definitely worth a visit as they are right next to the palace and offer a breathtaking view of the city.
Art lovers are in the perfect spot at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The museum for modern art houses a number of works from Pablo Picasso. Madrid also has one of the most significant art museums in the world, the Museo del Prado containing over 4,000 works of art.
And time to relax: Ahead of the game it is worth taking a detour to Retiro Park where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the green surroundings. You can also go boating on the Lago Grande or visit the famous Glass Palace.
The Werkself face Manchester City for the very first time on Tuesday for Matchday 5 of the league phase in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The hosts sit fourth in the standings and boast huge quality in attack, while Leverkusen are looking to improve their meagre record of just one win from the last 10 games away at English clubs. A key player in that regard could be Aleix Garcia, the former City midfielder who ranks highly in several passing metrics in the Champions League this season. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
The Werkself's next European trip takes them to the north-west of England as Kasper Hjulmand's side take on Manchester City on Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET) on Matchday 5 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. As usual, we'll take you along on the #aCROSSeurope journey and report from Manchester. All times listed are in CET.
Show more
The dress rehearsal in the Premier League for the match against the Werkself did not go well at the weekend. However, Manchester City are still unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League, the competition they won in 2023. In the first encounter with Bayer 04 this Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Pep Guardiola will be able to field just about his best line-up. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Will the Bayer 04 U19s take the next step towards their first appearance in the knockout stage of the UEFA Youth League in the away game at Manchester City? Coach Kevin Brok is well aware of this historic opportunity, but he's not about to start worrying about the maths: "We're not concerned with the question of what might be good enough. We invest everything we can and always aim for the maximum. That's our way." The game on this penultimate Matchday 5 of the league phase takes place on Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 16:00 CET) at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. Werkself TV will be broadcasting the whole match exclusively for Bayer 04 club members live from 15:50 CET....
Show more
€1,000 and food for a good cause: In keeping with the long-standing cooperation between Bayer 04 and the Tafel Leverkusen e.V. food bank, the U19s are also supporting the charitable organisation in the region. In addition to the generous cheque the team were able to donate to an organisation of their choice as a result of their participation in the UEFA Youth League, coach Kevin Brok's lads donated €500 worth of food - financed by their own team kitty. Ferdinand Pohl, Jesper Schlich and Co. also actively helped to stow the food in the Tafel's premises.
Show more
