Matchday news: To the very top of the European stage at the fourth attempt?

40 years across Europe. Still Creating History.

Under this theme, Bayer 04 are celebrating 40 years of European football this season, featuring great nights, unforgettable moments and special encounters – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Whilst former players – such as Falko Götz on this occasion – look back as part of the 2026/27 Europa League season, today’s Werkself aim to write their own chapter in the club’s history.

#B04OM: match facts

Not only Bayer 04 that can look back on a long history in European competitions; Marseille have also competed on the European stage for several decades – in 1993, the southern French side even won the UEFA Champions League. Rudi Völler was part of that team. A year after winning the UCL, the striker moved on to Bayer 04 and, following his playing career, went on to shape the club for over 18 years in various roles.

But back to the present: in their first ever competitive match against OM, the Werkself are looking to continue their run in the Europa League. The Black and Reds are yet to drop a point in the current campaign, have the highest expected goals tally of any team and have had the most shots on goal (33, level with Union St. Gilloise). Leverkusen feel particularly at home on European match nights at the BayArena, where they are unbeaten in ten Europa League matches.

When it comes to their upcoming opponents, Bayer 04 also have a real expert in their own ranks: Facundo Medina only moved from the Mediterranean coast to the Rhineland last summer and he still knows many of his next opponents from the dressing room. Bayer 04 fans can find out what the Argentine has to say to his current team-mates about his former club in the lowdown on our next opponents (see below).

focus on Marseille

After a poor start to the season, with four defeats from their first five matches, OM have won all of their last four matches in Ligue 1 and fought their way back up the table. In the Europa League, however, the southern French side still sit in 34th place without having picked up a single point. Head coach Bruno Genesio said his team now wants to finally “pick up some points” in Leverkusen, and is relying on two former Bundesliga players in midfield for this endeavour: Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg and Amine Harit both played for Schalke 04, amongst others, and now form the linchpin of the traditional club’s midfield. Whilst OM have consistently shown themselves to be strong in terms of play and attack, their defence has revealed weaknesses since the start of the season. The lowdown on our next opponents.

U19 friendly against om youth team

Bayer 04 fans can get in the mood for the Europa League match this afternoon at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. That’s where the U19s will face the Marseille youth side in a friendly. Kick-off is at 14:00 CET, and entry is free.

Werkself Live 

Want to be fully up to speed before the match? Just take a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday magazine, which provides a concise overview of the key facts and figures about the game, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively, a free digital version is also available online. Featured on the XXL poster this time: Loïc Badé. HERE is the matchday magazine.

OM Coach Genesio: "We want to play our game"

According to Carles Martínez and Facundo Medina for the Werkself (HERE is the pre-match press conference report!) were joined on Wednesday evening by the away coach Bruno Genesio and goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange in the BayArena press conference room. The OM manager sees Bayer 04 as a team “who press hard and have strong individual players. It’ll be a good test to see where we stand. We want to play our game.” He knows his counterpart Martínez from Ligue 1: “He has a great tactical understanding and loves to play with plenty of possession. It’s always been tough to beat his team, and it will be the same tomorrow.” Goalkeeper de Lange added: “Despite our recent defeats in the Europa League, we are relaxed and we believe in ourselves.”

minute's silence for spanish player

In light of the tragic death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel Alameda, a minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off. The 30-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest following a collision during a match in the Spanish second division and passed away in hospital.

Turanyi and Voll in half-time Interview

During the half-time break of the UEL match, players Lilla Turanyi and Charlotte Voll take a look ahead to the weekend’s fixtures for the Bayer 04 women’s team. Despite the narrow defeat, the Leverkusen side were able to take plenty of positives from their DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie away at FC Bayern (0–1). Now they are aiming for a league win against Hamburger SV to stay in touch with the top three in the table. Kick-off is on Saturday, 7 November, at 14:00 CET at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Tickets are available HERE.

partial closure of A46 junction with A59

The junction at the Düsseldorf-Süd motorway interchange, where the A46 from Wuppertal joins the A59 towards Leverkusen, remains closed. A diversion via the Düsseldorf-Eller junction is signposted with a red dot. Full travel information is available HERE.