The Round of 16 – That was the target for Bayer 04 at the start of the campaign and it could be achieved with a game to play. That will happen if the Werkself win at CSKA Moscow and Tottenham fail to pick up more than one point in the other group match at AS Monaco (20.45 CET). A draw would see head coach Roger Schmidt and his team go through to the knock-out rounds if Tottenham lose in Monaco. The simplest formula for this conundrum: One point more than Tottenham will do. The Werkself will only find out after landing at Cologne/Bonn Airport as the plane with the Bayer 04 squad on board will be on the way home when the match in Monaco finishes.
CSKA have to win
Of course, the initial focus is on the Bayer 04 display at the impressive CSKA Arena. And the match promises much in terms of excitement as the the Russian champions from the capital are fighting for survival in the Champions League and that means they definitely need to win. Otherwise, the team coached by Leonard Sluzki, with just two points from four games, will be out of the competition
Incredible record
There is the chance of setting one dismal record right. CSKA have not kept a clean sheet in an unbelievable 26 games in the Champions League and that is the longest such run since the competition was founded. The keeper and club stalwart Igor Akinfeev has not kept a clean sheet in 37 matches. Since 2006 he has conceded at least one goal in every match in Europe’s elite club competition.
Extend the club record
Bayer 04 have also set a record recently but a positive one. The Werkself have not lost any of their last six Champions League games – the longest run in eleven seasons in the competition for Leverkusen. Bayer 04 are also unbeaten after the opening four group matches for the first time and they are with a good chance of being in the competition in the new year.
Live info on the LIVE App
Anybody wanting to follow the game on the move due to the unusually early kick-off can download the Bayer 04 Live App. Ahead of the game, the latest information on the two teams such as the line-ups and formation is available as is the live ticker with all the key match information during the match – live from the CSKA Arena.
Download at: bit.ly/b04live
All the news from Moscow
Using the hashtag #CSKAB04 fans can follow all the information and stories on the Werkself trip to Moscow on the social media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. It’s worth logging on before kick-off.
Group E table
1. AS Monaco (8 pts)
2. Bayer 04 (6 pts)
3. Tottenham (4 pts)
4.CSKA Moscow (2 pts)
Info for our supporters in Moscow: Bayer 04 have arranged for coaches to take Werkself fans from the CSKA Arena to the city centre after the game to enable them to continue their homeward journey from there safely. There will be a tour guide on every coach to provide travel information for onward journeys.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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