Matchday news #LPOB04: First-ever game against Polish champions

40 years across Europe. Still Creating History.

Under this motto, Bayer 04 are celebrating 40 years of European football this season, featuring great nights, unforgettable moments and special encounters – yesterday, today and tomorrow. On 17 September 1986, the Werkself played their first European match against Kalmar FF from Sweden. While former players look at the 2026/27 Europa League campaign, today’s Werkself aim to add their own chapters to the history books. And an exclusive European jersey links the decades with the silvery sheen of the gleaming trophy.

#LPOB04: match facts

The Werkself are set to face Lech Poznan for the first time in the club’s history. Up to now, the Black and Reds have only ever played one Polish team, but they did so four times. During the 1990/91 and 1994/95 UEFA Cup campaigns, Leverkusen won all four matches against GKS Katowice – the gallery features some images from the 4–0 home win in 1990 and the 4–1 away victory in 1994.

The Black and Reds have also enjoyed great success in the Europa League in recent years. The Werkself have won 15 of their last 17 group stage matches, including each of the last seven. On the European stage, the team under head coach Carles Martínez have capitalised on their set-piece strength, scoring all four of their most recent goals from corners – including both goals in the 2-0 win against NK Celje. On the first matchday in the group stage, Sparta Prague were the only other side apart from Leverkusen to score twice from corners.

focus on lech poznan

By contrast, the Lech Poznan record in the Europa League is not quite so rosy: in the latest of four consecutive European defeats, the side managed by Danish coach Niels Frederiksen lost 4-0 away to Crystal Palace. While the Polish champions’ defence has looked prone to errors at times, their attack has proved highly potent, scoring 30 goals in their last ten matches: The forward line, centred around the pacy wingers Patrik Walemark and Luis Palma, as well as captain Mikael Ishak – who previously played for FC Köln and FC Nürnberg – poses a constant goal threat. Read more in the lowdown on our next opponents.