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

Willkommen Aleksa Damjanovic | Bayer 04 verpflichtet Sturm-Talent von Roter Stern Belgrad
Werkself-TV - 13.02.2026

First interview with Aleksa Damjanovic: ‘This step means a lot to me’

Bayer 04 have secured the services of Serbia U19 international Aleksa Damjanovic for next season. The 17-year-old centre-forward will move from Red Star Belgrade to Leverkusen in the summer on a long-term contract. The 1.98 metre tall striker is regarded as one of the most promising attacking talents in Europe and has recently impressed with strong performances at both first team and youth level. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes and director of football Kim Falkenberg particularly praise his finishing, heading ability and physical presence in the penalty area.

Show more
Marc Landwehr
eSports - 13.02.2026

#B04eSports: Perfect yield at the start of final showdown

The Bayer 04 eSports team made a great start to the fifth and final showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26! The Leverkusen players picked up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round. Victories against VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Braunschweig and SpVgg Greuther Fürth not only put the Black and Reds in a good position to progress to the offline round. Valuable points were also collected for the overall table and direct entry into the final event of the German Club Championship.

Show more
Gegner-Check
eSports - 12.02.2026

#B04eSports: Bottom three at start of final showdown

The fifth and final showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 begins for the #B04eSports team this Thursday, 12 February (live on the VBL Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), with the online preliminary round kicking off against VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Braunschweig and SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Estrella Merino Gonzalez
Women - 12.02.2026

Women's derby at UHS: ‘An intense duel’

A Friday night derby, carnival time and floodlights: In the close race for third place in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Werkself welcome FC Köln. In addition to the neighbourly rivalry, the match, kicking off at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 18:30 CET, is also a highly charged sporting encounter.

Show more
Friederike Mehring
Women - 11.02.2026

Bayer 04 Women assistant coach Friederike Mehring extends contract

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed a contract extension with women’s assistant coach Friederike Mehring until 30 June 2027. The 32-year-old’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season.

Show more