Not just the stands will be full of fans tonight. There will be a bigger than usual attendance by journalists and media representatives: Hradecky, Havertz and Co. will be broadcast across the globe on 80 different TV stations. In addition, 77 print journalists and 74 photographers have accredited. Any fans unable to get a ticket can watch the game on the streaming service DAZN, follow the live text commentary at bayer04.de or tune into Werkself Radio.
Bayer 04 supporters can look forward to a real treat ahead of kick-off: There will be a pre-match show on the touchline from around 19.40 CET. Two honorary Werkself captains, Stefan Kießling and Carsten Ramelow will be there. The show will be on Bayer 04 TV, on our YouTube channel as well as our Facebook page.
A goal for the Werkself or the visitors will do tonight: The French referee Benoit Bastien has officiated three European games involving German teams to date – all ended in goalless draws: The clash between FC Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund in 2018, the Europa League play-off first leg match between RB Leipzig and Sorja Luhansk plus a 0-0 draw between Schalke and Galatasaray. The Werkself will be happy to break the cycle of stats with at least one goal against Juve.
When Pascal Ojigwe was 18 years old, FC Kaiserslautern signed the Nigerian from his home country in 1995 – and the midfielder then spent 11 years in Germany. Bayer 04 signed the former Nigeria international five years later. Ojigwe went on to be a runner-up with the Werkself in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and the Champions League playing 55 games for the Black and Reds. Pascal today celebrates his 43rd birthday. Bayer 04 wish him many happy returns.
Despite a major personnel shake-up in the summer, RB Leipzig have performed impressively this term. Ahead of matchday 15, coach Ole Werner's team are second in the Bundesliga with a three-point lead over their upcoming opponents Bayer 04. This Saturday, 20 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET), the Werkself are away to RBL who are strong at home. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The German Football League (DFL) has scheduled matchdays 20 to 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The dates at a glance.
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This year - for the third time - the parents of the Bayer 04 youth players from the U8 to U15 age groups once again took part in the WDR Christmas Miracle. Under the motto "Goals against hunger in the world - parents in goal!", they organised their own fundraising campaign to once again actively support the important WDR campaign. The sum of €3,420 was handed over at the Glashaus in Essen in the middle of the week during the live programme.
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On Tuesday evening, Bayer 04's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer and its employees welcomed some very special visitors to the company's Christmas market at its headquarters in Wuppertal: Werkself players Robert Andrich, Mark Flekken, Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman spent lots of time with Bayer 04 fans of all ages in the early evening – and also helped to serve drinks such as Glühwein (mulled wine) and delicious food.
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The Leverkusen eSports players picked up just one point on Tuesday 16 December in the remaining three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. As a result, the #B04eSports team once again miss out on going through to the offline knockout phase and now head into the winter break.
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