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 second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
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Continuity under the Cross: After the successful season in 2024/25 with reaching the final of the VBL Club Championship, the two Leverkusen e-sports players Marc and Sean Landwehr have extended their contracts at Bayer 04 by an additional two years. Marc is thereby in his sixth year and Sean in his third year with the Werkself. Together with e-talent Marcus Hüttemann, who has also extended his stay at Bayer 04 Bayer year, completes the current squad for the 2025/26 season.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed centre forward Christian Kofane. The 18-year-old Cameroonian joins Leverkusen from Spanish second tier club Albacete on a contract to 30 June 2029.
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First away to the champions, then at home to a newly promoted club: The Werkself fixtures for the 2025/26 season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga have been confirmed. A week after the season opener away to Bayern Munich in front of 25,000 fans at the Allianz Arena, the team led by coach Roberto Pätzold entertain newly promoted Union Berlin. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Friday. The opening match in Munich is on Saturday, 6 September (kick-off: 17:45 CEST) and the first home game on matchday 2 will be played between 12 and 15 September. The new season, with 14 top-flight teams instead of 12, ends for the Black and Reds with a home game against Werder Bremen on 17 May 2026.
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