After a break of three years, the Champions League anthem will soon ring out again across the BayArena. For the twelfth time in total – and for the sixth time in the past eight years. The Werkself will have to be patient for another couple of months before it all kicks off – and also until the draw of the group stages to be held in Monaco on 29 August. The first matchday is set for 17 and 18 September.
As in previous years, a total of 32 teams will take part in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition (with eight groups of four). The direct qualifiers are the Champions League winners plus the winners of the Europa League, the best four teams in Germany, England, Italy and Spain, the best two teams from France and Russia plus the national champions from Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium and Turkey. As the two finalists in this season's Champions League – Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool – are qualified for the group stage through a top four finish in the Premier League, the automatic qualification place for the winners of the final goes to the eleventh-placed national association (Austria) – that means the champions FC Salzburg in this case. Talking about Salzburg. Like the Austrians and Valencia, Bayer 04 will be in Pot three for the draw.
The ultimate line-up for next season's Champions League is not yet finalised. To this point, the following 23 clubs have qualified (as at 21 May 2019): Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer 04 (all Germany), Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur (all England), Juventus, Napoli (both Italy), Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Valencia (all Spain), Paris St Germain, Lille (both France), Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia), Benfica (Portugal), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), KRC Genk (Belgium), Galatasaray (Turkey) plus FC Salzburg (Austria).
In Italy, Bergamo, Inter Milan and AC Milan are fighting for the remaining two places in Italy from the final match day. In Russia the last direct qualification spot is between FK Krasnodar and Locomotive Moscow. If Arsenal win the Europa League then the London team would be the fifth English side in the Champions League. The remaining places will be decided in the qualifying rounds from the end of June.
The final will be played on 30 May 2020 – for the second time since 2005 – at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in the Turkish capital Istanbul (75,145 capacity).
Bayer 04 supporters can already secure tickets for Champions League home games. With a Bundesliga Plus season card. This option secures a seat for all Bayer 04 competitive games at the BayArena in the 2019/20 season, for the Bundesliga fixtures and additional games in the DFB Cup and the Champions League.
Matchday three in the league stage of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 takes Bayer 04 to Stade Brest. To be more exact to Guingamp where the game against the most westerly top-flight club in France will be played at the Stade de Roudouro on Wednesday, 23 October with the kick-off at 18.45 CEST. The match will be covered live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio. Up to then we will take you on the tour #aCROSSeurope and keep you up-to-date on the Werkself in Brittany.
Show more
The Werkself face French club Stade Brest on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams won their first two games in Europe's premier club competition. Kick-off is at 18:45 CEST this evening, Wednesday 23 October, at the Stade du Roudourou (Guingamp). Catch up with key information ahead of the clash.
Show more
Still unbeaten and now with seven points to their name: In the third match of the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League, Bayer 04 U19s earned a point at Stade Brest. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Kerim Alajbegovic put Leverkusen ahead (24'), but the French side equalised shortly before the break. After the break, Artem Stepanov had the best chance for the Werkself but his shot hit the post and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Show more
Bayer 04 are away to Stade Brest on Wednesday, 23 October (kick-off: 18.45 CEST at the Stade de Roudourou, live on DAZN) on matchday three in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the game, to be played in Guingamp, head coach Xabi Alonso and Martin Terrier spoke about their ambitions, the dangerous opponents as well as the personnel situation at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday night.
Show more