Meetings between Bayer 04 and Atletico Madrid have tradition on the big European stage. After tonight's clash, the Werkself will have played more competitive games against the Rojiblancos than against any other team from Spain. In 10 encounters there have been three wins (all at home), four draws and three defeats. There's a more in-depth look back at the previous meetings HERE.
Atletico are unbeaten in 10 Champions League home games against German teams. They've also just won four UCL matches in a row for the first time since November 2016. For their part, the Werkself could keep a fifth clean in this Champions League season - only Liverpool have registered more shutouts so far.
Atletico's impressive winning run of 15 games in all competitions - a club record - came to an end last weekend with a surprise 1-0 defeat at promoted side CD Leganes, which saw Diego Simeone's men knocked off top spot in LaLiga by city rivals Real Madrid. In the Champions League, meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann and Co sit in 11th place in the league phase on 12 points, one point behind fourth-placed Bayer 04. After a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig to start, there were two defeats at Benfica (4-0) and at home to OSC Lille (3-1) before three successive wins against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1), Sparta Prague (6-0) and Slovan Bratislava (3-1). There's more in our opposition analysis.
Before the Bayer 04 press conference yesterday evening with Xabi Alonso and Alejandro Grimaldo (round-up HERE), Atletico coach Simeone and midfielder Pablo Barrios also had their say on today's match. Simeone said: "Bayer Leverkusen are an extraordinary team. They play very good football with very good tempo, transitions and positional play. The way they play football is admirable."
Meanwhile, Barrios said: "It's going to be a difficult game. We all know Bayer Leverkusen, they'll make it very tough for us. But we'll go out there together and do our best to win."
For all Werkself fans following the game in Madrid, Bayer 04 partner weloveholidays has summarised the best travel tips for the top attractions in the Spanish capital. You can find the article HERE.
The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team have also put together a guide for the 1,700 Werkself fans who are travelling to the Champions League away match. The fan info is HERE.
UEFA has appointed Davide Massa as the referee for this one. The 43-year-old Italian has officiated four competitive matches involving Leverkusen to date, including the 4-0 win at Feyenoord on Matchday 1 of the current Champions League campaign. Assisting Massa today are his compatriots Ciro Carbone and Stefano Alassio on the sidelines, as well as Aleandro di Paolo as VAR.
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Guéla Doué’s first 30 minutes in a Bayer 04 shirt during the draw away at Augsburg have definitely made the summer signing eager for more. The 23-year-old may have had to bide his time following his move from Strasbourg due to a muscular injury, but he’s been able to get a good taste of the BayArena atmosphere while watching from the stands in the home wins over Celje and RB Leipzig, as the Ivory Coast international explained in a chat with media representatives. “The fans’ enthusiasm and passion are incredible,” said Doué, looking forward to what lies ahead. The defender also spoke about his plans for a comeback, his teammates and his younger brother Désiré.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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