
On matchday one in the UEFA Champions League in two weeks time, the Werkself are away to Club Brugge on Wednesday 7 September. The kick-off at Jan Breydel Stadium is at 21.00 CEST. Atlético Madrid visit the BayArena on matchday two. That game also kicks off at 21.00 CEST. At the start of October, the team led by head coach Gerardo Seoane travel to Portugal. The match against FC Porto is on 4 October at 21.00 CEST.
The return fixture against the Portuguese champions at the BayArena as a week later on 12 October (kick-off: 21.00 CEST). The Seoane team are then away to Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano on 26 October (kick-off: 21.00 CEST). The final group match for Lukas Hradecky and Co. is at home to Club Brugge on 1 November. The kick-off is at 18.45 CEST.
Champions League group stage fixtures:
Matchday 1, 7 September 2022, 21.00 CEST: Club Brugge vs Bayer 04
Matchday 2, 13 September 2022, 21.00 CEST: Bayer 04 vs Atlético Madrid
Matchday 3, 4 October 2022, 21.00 CEST: FC Porto vs Bayer 04
Matchday 4, 12 October 2022, 21.00 CEST: Bayer 04 vs FC Porto
Matchday 5, 26 October 2022, 21.00 CEST: Atlético Madrid vs Bayer 04
Matchday 6, 1 November 2022, 18.45 CEST: Bayer 04 vs Club Brugge
Tickets for the Champions League home games: HERE

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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