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.
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
Show more
Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
Show more
Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
Show more
