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

Carolin Simon
Women - 21.08.2026

Women: Carolin Simon appointed as new captain

Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.

Show more
Farid Alfa-Ruprecht
Bayer 04 - 20.08.2026

Bayer 04 loan Alfa-Ruprecht to Hertha Berlin

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht is going out on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Bundesliga 2 side Hertha Berlin. The pacy winger will be at the Berlin club for one year.

Show more
Ezequiel Fernández und Victor Boniface im Training
Bayer 04 - 18.08.2026

Werkself begin final week of pre-season with open session – Fernández: 'Something's growing together here'

Heading towards the competitive start of the 2026/27 season together: the Werkself kicked off preparations for the DFB Pokal clash at third-tier SV Wehen Wiesbaden with an open session in front of their fans on Tuesday morning. Before the first-round tie on Saturday 22 August at 13:00 CEST - for which the away section is already sold out - there'll be one more open session on Thursday from 11:00 CEST, when fans have another chance to watch head coach Carles Martínez's men at work.

Show more
Ticket-Infos
Bundesliga - 18.08.2026

Tickets for the home match against RB Leipzig

Bayer 04 host RB Leipzig at the BayArena on matchday 4 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game is on Sunday 20 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. The latest information on ticket sales.

Show more