CSKA struggle in Germany
The last six European games against German teams have ended in defeat for CSKA Moscow. The Russians have lost all five European games in Germany with a goal difference of 3 for and 13 against. CSKA are in Champions League group stage for the tenth time. The team from Moscow have not won any of their games on match day one in the group stage (three draws, six defeats).
Club record
There was huge joy at qualifying again for the Champions League: Bayer 04 have now qualified for Europe seven times in succession – a new club record. In total, this is the eleventh Champions League campaign for the Werkself and the fourth on the bounce.
On target
Only FC Bayern, Real Madrid (19 each) and Barcelona (15) have appeared more often in the Champions League group stages than the Werkself (13 times, as have Chelsea and Zenit).
Striker Chicharito netted five goals in six Champions League games in 2015/16. No Werkself player has ever reached that target in Europe's elite club competition in so few games. Strike partner Kevin Volland is on the verge of making his European debut.
Black armband
The Werkself will wear black arm bands tonight. Herman Josef Strenger, the former chairman of Bayer AG, passed away recently. There are no one-minute silences at Champions League matches.
Live ticker
The Bayer 04 LIVE APP, recently nominated one of the most innovative apps on a popular App blog, will be packed full of exclusive information (in German) on Bayer 04 on Saturday. You can download it now to keep up-to-date with the action at Werkself while you are on the move.>> bit.ly/b04live
Get on the double-decker bus
On Monday the new jewel in the crown in red and black was presented in front of the town hall gallery in Leverkusen. The new double-decker bus needs a name and suggestions can be sent to club@bayer04.de by the closing date of Sunday 18 September. A panel will then decide on the winning entry and the successful competitors will receive two VIP tickets for a selected home game as a prize.
Name suggestions can also be delivered in person at the Champions League home game against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday. The double-decker bus will be parked in front of the Smidt Arena for the first time at home game.
Local traffic update
Anybody heading to the BayArena by car on Wednesday night should be prepared for delays. As part of the construction of an HGV barrier system to protect the Rhine Bridge in Leverkusen, the A1 in the direction of Koblenz at the Leverkusen West motorway junction will be down to one lane from 23.00 CET on Wednesday to 05.00 CET on Thursday. In addition, the connecting road from the Leverkusen Rheinallee to the A1 will be closed from 22.00 CET to 05.00 CET. The diversion via Rheindorf is indicated by red dots. Anybody coming via the A 59 from the direction of Düsseldorf and wanting to go onto the A1 can use the motorway junction and travel onto the Rhine Bridge.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on the 17th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 have a score to settle with Borussia Mönchengladbach after their late equaliser in the reverse fixture. But it’s been a while since the points were shared in this fixture at Borussia-Park, where the Werkself have won their last six visits – their best run ever away at a team in the Bundesliga. Victory in Saturday evening’s game (18:30 CET) would also be the team’s fifth in a row in all competitions and their best run this season, while Gladbach are only just above the bottom three after going four games without a win. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the evening’s encounter in our matchday news.
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After just two points from their last four games, the situation has become trickier for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the bottom third of the table. Only three points separate the Foals from the relegation play-off spot. Coach Eugen Polanski's team is under pressure ahead of the home game against the Werkself on Saturday, 7 February (kick-off: 18:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Ahead of the Bundesliga match at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 7 February (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the strengths of the ‘Foals’ and a new player in his own ranks.
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