Back
6.12.2016Champions League

'We definitely want to win at home!'

It's Champions League time again! For the last time in this calendar year, Europe's biggest club competition is taking place at the BayArena and head coach Roger Schmidt's team can look to a quality encounter with AS Monaco on Wednesday night (20.45 CET).
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

"The fact we're already qualified for the Round of 16 just provides further motivation," said the 49 year-old boss ahead of the last group match.

Both teams are unbeaten in the current Champions League campaign and already certain of their final position. "That means we can concentrate on playing good football," said Schmidt. He does not believe any of his players will fail to give 100 per cent due to the relative insignificance of the result of the match. Central defender Aleksandar Dragovic confirmed that at the pre-match press conference: "We're looking forward to the game even more as we have an account to settle with our opponents."

Clear mission

Monaco's Kamil Glick scored with the last shot of the match against the Werkself to secure a fortunate 1-1 draw when the two teams met in the Principality. "It was a speculative effort on a Tuesday night," recalled Dragovic as he explained his additional motivation: "We definitely want to pick up three points at home – also with one eye on the last three Bundesliga matches of the year."

Schmidt has had good and bad news on the injury front over the past few days. While Kevin Kampl, Admir Mehmedi and Kevin Volland are sidelined, Ömer Toprak and Jonathan Tah return as do Vladlen Yurchenko, Joel Pohjanpalo and Stefan Kießling. All are options for an appearance on Wednesday night. That also applies to the number two keeper Ramazan Özcan. "I'm thinking about making one or two changes – including in goal," said Schmidt.

Tickets still available

All the above named fit players took part in the final pre-match training session at the BayArena. Tickets are still available for anybody who want to see the final Werkself match in the Champions League ahead of Monday's Round of 16 draw. Ticket offices will be open on the night of the game.

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Related News

Exequiel Palacios
Bayer 04 - 12.05.2026

Round Table with media from Latin America: Palacios on end of season and World Cup

Ahead of the conclusion to the 2025/26 season with the Werkself and the World Cup with Argentina, Bayer 04 midfielder Exequiel Palacios answered questions from journalists from the Latin America region. In a digital media round, the 27-year-old, who's been in Leverkusen since 2020, spoke about the "great development potential" in the current Werkself squad as well as his World Cup ambitions with the Albiceleste, among other things.

Show more
Julia Mickenhagen verlässt Bayer 04
Women - 12.05.2026

Julia Mickenhagen to move to VfB Stuttgart

Full-back Julia Mickenhagen is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the end of the season to join Bundesliga newcomers VfB Stuttgart. The 21-year-old’s contract with the club expires on 30 June.

Show more
Women keep Champions League hopes alive with win in Leipzig | 25th matchday
Werkself-TV - 11.05.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 3-1 win at RB Leipzig

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-1 win at RB Leipzig on the 25th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.

Show more
Cornelia Kramer jubelt
Women - 11.05.2026

Bayer 04 Women win in Leipzig to keep Champions League chance alive

Bayer 04 Women still have a chance of qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time ever going into the final day of the season after a 3-1 win at RB Leipzig on Monday evening. The result took Roberto Pätzold’s side to within two points of Eintracht Frankfurt in third place. Cornelia Kramer, Katharina Piljic and Ruby Grant scored the goals for the Werkself’s fifth consecutive win that sets up a thrilling final matchday at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Show more