Bayer 04 are unbeaten in the three home games against Bayern Munich under Xabi Alonso with two ending in victory. Before Alonso arrived, Bayer Leverkusen only won one of their eight home games against Bayern (two draws, five defeats) from 2015/16 to 2021/22.
The Werkself could become the fifth team in the history of the UEFA Champions League to have lost the first leg in a knockout round by at least three goals but nevertheless progress to the next round – that was last achieved by Liverpool in the semi-final against Barcelona in the 2018/19 campaign.
Bayern Munich have qualified for the quarter-finals in the European Cup/Champions League 35 times with only Real Madrid achieving that feat more often (39 times).
With the 3-0 win in the first leg, FC Bayern are in a good position for the second leg encounter. But the record champions failed to win at the weekend suffering a 3-2 defeat against VfL Bochum on Saturday. For Harry Kane the second leg is now the perfect opportunity to show a reaction to the defeat against Bochum. The England international said: "Every time we've lost this season we've gone into the next game full of passion and determination. We will need that on Tuesday." Further information on Bayern Munich can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
After the press conference with Xabi Alonso and Jonathan Tah on Monday afternoon (HERE is the report), FCB coach Vincent Kompany and midfielder Leon Goretzka shared their views on today's game with the media in the evening. Kompany said: "We want to get the result that takes us into the next round. But the priority above all else is for us to win the game. Certain things will happen and we can expect that. We have to produce our best performance again."
Leon Goretzka declared: "We will definitely take a similar approach. The situation in the tie is an advantage but it will now be the fifth or sixth game against Leverkusen. They’ve all been tight games so we absolutely want to win the match regardless of the first leg result." Statements from the duo can be found HERE.
Fans who want to get in the mood for today's Champions League night could take a look at the two-hour documentary on the 1998 UEFA Cup win. Back then, the Werkself lost 3-0 in the first leg of the final against Espanyol. The comeback was achieved in the second leg with Bayer 04 3-0 up after extra time. The Black and Reds won the penalty shootout 3-2 to lift the UEFA Cup. The game was like a film. Exclusive insights into that highly emotional an historic night are available here:
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Anyone wanting to discover the latest information ahead of kick-off can take a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday magazine, which includes key facts and stats on the match, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively it is available free online. HERE is the e-paper.
Die UEFA hat Slavko Vincic für die Partie angesetzt. Der 45-jährige Slowene leitete bisher drei Spiele mit Beteiligung der Werkself (2 Siege, 1 Remis). Vincic assistieren heute seine Landsmänner Tomaz Klancnik und Andraz Kovacic an den Seitenlinien, als VAR ist Alen Borošak im Einsatz.
The game will be broadcast live on Prime Video. As ever, supporters unable to be at the match can follow the game on Werkself Radio. The audio broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann and Cedric Pick. In addition, the live text update service will keep fans up-to-date. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
The first away game in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season: The Werkself travel to Werder Bremen on matchday two on Saturday, 30 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Weserstadion…
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen go into the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with another partner in the Sponsors Club. The previous Executive Box partner pure.energy has extended their commitment and taken the established partnership with the current German runners-up to the next highest level. The newly defined cooperation between Bayer 04 and pure.energy is set to run for two years to 30 June 2027.
Show moreLucas Vázquez is at Bayer 04! The 34-year-old is embarking on a new chapter in his career after winning 23 trophies and making over 400 appearances for Real Madrid: The Spaniard has a contract at Bayer 04 to 2027. In interview he talks about the new challenge, his role at the Werkself and what Xabi Alonso and Dani Carvajal have told him about Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Show moreSide-by-side with Bayer 04 Idol Rudi Völler, the Werkself women's team player Carlotta Wamser campaigned for amateur football in the community of Hürtgen in the district of Düren. As part of a VIP discussion group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign ‘Punktespiel 2.0’, Germany international Wamser, DFB director of professional football Völler plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth talked about the new club campaign organised by the German Football Association (DFB) at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen clubhouse.
Show moreBayer 04 player Carlotta Wamser is part of a VIP group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign Punktespiel 2.0. The Germany international, who signed for the Werkself in the summer, will be speaking tonight (Monday) alongside former Leverkusen managing director sport Rudi Völler, now the current DFB sporting director, plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen club house about the new clubs campaign launched by the German Football Association (DFB).
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