Including qualification rounds, the Werkself have advanced the last 13 times when they've won the first leg by a margin of two goals or more. However, West Ham have won their last 11 European games on home soil - seven of them by a two-goal difference, which they'll need again tonight to knock out Bayer 04. The Hammers will certainly draw confidence from the fact they've won three of their last four home encounters with teams from Germany, while the Werkself have only triumphed on one of their last 10 visits to England.
Last year's UEFA Europa Conference League winners must do without a couple of key players tonight, though. Attacker Lucas Paquetá and full-back Emerson are both suspended after being booked in the first leg. It remains to be seen whether top scorer Jarrod Bowen will be fit - the forward missed the first leg due to a back problem.
Last weekend could have hardly turned out more different for both clubs. While the Werkself clinched the first Bundesliga title in the club's history with a 5-0 victory over SV Werder Bremen, West Ham suffered a blow in the Premier League. For the first time in 23 years, the Hammers lost a London derby at home to Fulham, losing 2-0 to the side in 12th place. At full time, manager David Moyes summarised: "I'm really disappointed." The 60-year-old Scot then quickly turned his attention towards today's second leg: "We will get ready for the game on Thursday night now, and hopefully we can respond in the right way.." Goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski, who faced 33 shots on his goal against Leverkusen last week, said after the game against Fulham: "We have a really good record at home in European competitions, so let's see what happens." There's more on the Hammers in our opposition profile.
Spanish referee José María Sánchez has been appointed by UEFA for the clash at the London Stadium. The 40-year-old will be assisted by compatriots Raúl Cabañero and Iñigo Prieto, with Carlos del Cerro Grande as the VAR.
Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who moved to Arsenal FC on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the 2025/26 season, will join the English champions permanently on 1 July 2026.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro will lead a club delegation to Brazil from July 2-6 for a program of partner engagement, community activities and football development initiatives across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
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In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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