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.
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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