Live blog: The Werkself away to Benfica

+++ 5 November, 23:04 CET: Battling display for important first UCL win of the season! +++

These three points were so important! Thanks to a strong defensive and highly focussed performance, the Werkself secured a 1-0 win at Benfica. Patrik Schick scored the only goal of the game against legendary coach José Mourinho's team with a header midway through the second half after coming on as a substitute.

This means that Bayer 04 now have five points in the league phase after four games. That currently puts them in 21st place in the overall table. Now it's off to bed happy with the three points - or for some of the fans who travelled no doubt further on into the city. Take care, see you tomorrow on departure day for the Leverkusen squad!

And for those who want a little reading material before going to bed - here you go:

• Match report
• Match highlights

+++ 5 November, 15:33: A few facts ahead of UCL clash +++

Let's turn our attention towards the first team's Champions League game tonight. The final two items on the agenda before the journey to the stadium around 18:15 are the pre-match meal and a final meeting.

A few facts for you: the Estádio do SL Benfica accommodates 65,000 spectators and was opened in 2003. It was built right next to the old ground, which then had a capacity of 125,000. The first time a Bayer 04 team played Benfica away was at this huge bowl in 1994. The new Estádio do SL Benfica had its international baptism of fire a year after opening at the European Championship in Portugal. Three group matches, a quarter-final and the final were held there. In 2014, it was also the venue for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. The arena, whose polycarbonate roof allows intense sunlight to enter, is also frequented by stars of the music scene, such as Taylor Swift.

Incidentally, there is a regular ritual at Benfica's home games: an eagle named Vitoria flies around the stadium before kick-off and lands on a wooden shield bearing the club's coat of arms. Well, we're looking forward to later!

Want more to get you in the mood? Then click below! 👇

THE MATCHDAY NEWS!

​+++ 5 November, 13:57: Full time in Youth League +++

In the corresponding Youth League match between Bayer 04 and Benfica, our U19s have gone down to a 5-0 defeat. After falling behind early, the Black-and-Reds came into the game more but two quickfire doubles either side of half-time sealed the win for the hosts. It's the first defeat for the U19s in this season's competition. Chin up boys, we go again! Read the match report HERE.

+++ 5 November, 13:29: Activation in the team hotel 💦💪 +++

While the Youth League encounter in the south of the city is drawing to a close (more to follow), the sporting element of the day has just begun for the first team - with the usual activation in the team hotel. The Werkself players limbered up with some stretching - some while watching the Youth League game on their phones - followed by a fun round of football tennis. Now it's off to lunch to fortify!

+++ 4 November, 21:02: The key quotes from the press conference 👇 +++

The press conference at the Estádio do SL Benfica media centre is over, and Kasper Hjulmand and Alejandro Grimaldo have arrived at the team hotel. Our coach spoke of a "very important game for both teams in this competition. The aim is to get back into the tournament tomorrow with a win." Grimaldo said of his return to Lisbon, where he played for Benfica for more than seven years: :It's a very big club and I'm proud to have played here for so long and to have been so successful. But now I'm at Bayer 04 and I'm just focusing on this season. We are prepared for the opposition and the atmosphere in the stadium."

THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE REPORT!

With this reading material and a few photos from the stadium we're saying goodnight on Matchday-1. Sleep well and we'll be back in the morning for the UCL matchday. Boa noite! 🇵🇹😴

+++ 4 November, 19:23: The eagle has landed! 🛬🇵🇹 +++

Olá de Lisboa! The Bayer 04 party have arrived and spent the time on board well. Be it with music, films or Uno, the time in the air went quickly. The sun may have gone down now but temperatures are still pleasant. The majority of the Werkself will now head to the hotel for dinner, while Kasper Hjulmand and Alejandro Grimaldo are travelling to the press conference at the Estádio do SL Benfica.

+++ 4 November, 15:49: Off to Lisbon! +++

The Bayer 04 squad - as usual in the Champions League in smart Lerros attire - have arrived at the airport and are about to board the plane. The team charter flight will take a good three hours. We say: flight mode on and see you lat

+++ 4 November, 13:47: Final pre-match training session 📸 +++

Greetings from the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The players are still in the final pre-match training session. They went out onto the pitch in pleasant temperatures - and got down to business one last time before departure. The 15-minute open session included warm-up and agility exercises, followed by the first passing drills. On the other side of the pitch, the three keepers worked hard with goalkeeping coach David Thiel.

The lads will have lunch together straight after the session before setting off for Cologne Bonn Airport.

+++ 4 November, 13:21: Rolfes on sate of play and Benfica 💬 +++

The players are completing the final pre-match training session with comments to follow here. But first of all, the most important statements from managing director sport Simon Rolfes, who - as announced at the beginning - spoke to the media at the training ground before the start of the session. Among other things, the 43-year-old said: "After the two draws, we naturally want to win at all costs. We're really looking forward to it. I've played in Lisbon myself, it's a beautiful stadium with a great atmosphere." The Leverkusen managing director sport said of the Portuguese record champions: "They are a top team and Benfica are a very good club overall with outstanding youth development. That has characterised them for many years."

According to Rolfes, José Mourinho, who has been in the Benfica dugout since September, has a "special style of play. He's a coach we know very well." Mourinho coached AS Roma in 2023 and he still remembers the highly emotional semi-final in the UEFA Europa League. "That was a defeat and a disappointment which we drew a huge amount of energy from. It was an incredible incentive for the successful season that followed. Sometimes it takes moments like that to achieve something big. The emotions there helped us a lot later on," said Rolfes.

+++ 4 November, 13:05: U19 pre-match training session at the BayArena ✔️ +++

The U19s started their final session ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Youth League clash at 11:30 CET on the dot. The final training session under the direction of coach Kevin Brok on one of the training pitches next to the BayArena came to an end a few minutes ago. Now it's time for the lads to take a shower, have lunch together and then take the team bus to Cologne Bonn Airport.

+++ 4 November, 11:47: Have you got your Lisbon sticker? 🤝 +++

As you know, the motto of our Champions League tour this season is "Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26". To mark the occasion, there is a special tour passport at the Fanwelt, which you can get and stick in a sticker for every UCL match and benefit from exclusive promotions. In addition, a specially created Spotify playlist will get you in the Champions League mood. You can find the playlist and all information about the Tour Pass HERE.

+++ 4 November, 10:21: Travel advice 🛫 +++

In the meantime, a tip for all Bayer 04 fans travelling with us: Lisbon is a great place to pass the time until kick-off tomorrow, as the Portuguese capital has a lot to offer! Highlights include the Cristo Rei statue, the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, the Castelo de São Jorge castle, the Torre de Belém and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The exciting neighbourhoods such as Belém and Alfama, as well as the riverside promenade and the numerous viewpoints, the so-called miradouros, are also ideal places for a few souvenir photos.

+++ 4 November, 09:04: And we’re off! 😍 +++

Good morning, Werkself fans! The second European trip in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 campaign begins today and takes Bayer 04 to Portuguese record champions Benfica. Here's the schedule for the day: The Werkself kick off with the final pre-match training session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 12:30 CET. The first 15 minutes are open to media representatives and will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes will also speak to the media shortly before the start of training - the most important statements will of course also be available here.

After lunch following the session, the Bayer 04 squad - including the U19s (final training session: 11:30 CET) for their UEFA Youth League match tomorrow - will travel to the airport and from there to Lisbon. After landing, head coach Kasper Hjulmand and Alejandro Grimaldo, who played for Benfica from 2016 to 2023, will head straight to the press conference at the Estádio do SL Benfica, tomorrow's venue. A packed programme - and, of course, we will take you with us every step of the way!