#SLBB04 – match facts
All Bayer 04 fans have fond memories of the last two encounters with Benfica. The Werkself won 3-1 at home and held Benfica to a goalless draw at the Portuguese capital in the 2014/15 Champions League group stage. The home game against Benfica in the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals that ended in a 4-4 draw is also worth mentioning. Ulf Kirsten bagged a brace back then.
Free-kick king Alejandro Grimaldo knows both clubs inside out. The Spaniard played for Benfica for seven years before moving to Leverkusen in 2023 and going on to play a big role in the double win. Less well-known is that goalkeeping legend Hans-Jörg Butt joined Benfica from the Werkself in 2007 before joining Bayern Munich. So there are quite a few similarities between the clubs – first and foremost their founding year: 1904.
Benfica in focus
Things haven’t been going particularly well for Benfica in Europe’s premier club competition. They’ve lost all three games against Qarabag (3-2), Chelsea (1-0) and Newcastle United (3-0), even though new coach José Mourinho was in the dugout for the last two matches. 'The Special One' took over from his compatriot Bruno Lage and steadied the ship in the domestic league at least, where Benfica are in third place having gone unbeaten in all ten matches so far. The solid defence around old hand and World Cup winner Nicolas Otamendi has played no small part in the run, conceding only four goals. Benfica’s attacking unit is firing in the league (21 goals) but has lacked efficiency in the Champions League so far, scoring just twice. Two familiar faces from German football are playing there: Dodi Lukebakio wore Fortuna Düsseldorf, VfL Wolfsburg and Hertha BSC colours, while top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis made four Bundesliga 2 appearances for VfL Bochum. Find out more in our in-depth opposition profile.
“Sound of Dreams”: The tour pass for the UCL!
The Werkself and the Bayer 04 fans will turn the Champions League trip to Lisbon too into a festival under the motto ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’. As a little reminder: in addition to Bayer 04’s exclusive UCL Spotify playlist, Champions League tour pass holders can pick up matching stickers for the game in Lisbon at the Fanwelt on the south side of the BayArena and win great prizes at the end of the league phase. All further information on the tour pass, the Spotify playlist and the ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’ motto can be found HERE!
