
The new coronavirus protection order for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia came into effect yesterday (Wednesday) immediately introduces the 2G rule (proof of vaccination or recovery) in the areas of culture and entertainment. This also applies to sporting events. Bayer 04 have already operated the 2G rule for Werkself home games for some time. The new factor is: The 2G rule now applies to people aged 16 and above. Here are the home game FAQs.
In addition to digital proof of vaccination or recovery, official photo ID (identity card, passport or driving licence) must be presented at the stadium entry points. Access to the BayArena will only be permitted on production of the two documents.
UEFA have appointed the Greek referee Anastasios ‘Tasos’ Sidiropoulos for tonight’s game. The 42-year-old has already been in charge of 20 Europa League matches including a 4-0 win for the Werkself against Slavia Prague almost ten years ago. It is the second match in the current Europa League campaign for Sidiropoulos. Have a good game.
Werkself LIVE will be available at tonight’s home game against the Scots at the BayArena – alternatively you can view the free matchday magazine online. The new Bayer 04 flyer provides interesting stats and facts on the match between the Werkself and team second in the Scottish Premiership. In addition there is a poster of the Ecuadorian summer signing Piero Hincapie on the reverse. HERE is the e-paper.

The Werkself and Celtic had never met before the meeting at the end of September – the Seoane team could maintain a perfect record against the top Scottish side with a win tonight. The omens are good.
Today’s visitors have not done at all well on German soil to date: 6 of their 7 seven away games in Germany in the Europa League or the UEFA Cup ended in defeat (1 draw), most recently against RB Leipzig in October 2018. On the other hand, Bayer 04 have not lost a single game in 14 home matches in the Europa League group stages (11 wins, 3 draws). No other team in the history of the competition has played as many games at home without losing a single match.
In addition to the Europa League match, Thursday is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. For three years, the Werkself have joined together with the Zonta Club Leverkusen in supporting the worldwide campaign ‘Orange your City’.

In the past, the BayArena has been light up in orange for the whole evening along with other buildings in Leverkusen such as the Water Tower, the Museum Morsbroich and the Christuskirche church in Wiesdorf to make a clear statement against violence against women.
Bayer 04 are again supporting the campaign this year. However, it is not possible to light up the stadium due to the Europa League match but the Werkself remain in full support of the campaign.

Once again in the last four! Bayer 04 put in a mature and, for long stretches, commanding performance to defeat a courageous FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the third time in a row. Martin Terrier gave Leverkusen the lead on 32 minutes before Patrik Schick made it 2-0 on 63 minutes. Substitute Jonas Hofmann capped off a strong second half for the Werkself with the third goal in added time.
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The German Football League (DFL) has announced the three candidates for the title of Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for January. That includes Werkself player Jarell Quansah. Fans of Bayer 04 can vote for their favourite on the Bundesliga app from now until Thursday, 5 January (23:59 CET).
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As in the past two years, the Werkself are aiming to come out on top in the DFB Pokal quarter-finals on Tuesday night, 3 February (kick-off: 20:45 CET). With eleven home games in a row without defeat against the Kiezkicker, the Black and Reds go into the floodlit match in confident mood. But the Pokal, as is often said, has its own magic and the team from the Millerntor has much more to offer than the current 17th place in the Bundesliga would suggest. After all, Bayer 04 are one of the big German teams the combative Hamburgers have already made life difficult for this season. The matchday news.
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The Leverkusen eSports team picked up valuable points and made up ground in the overall table with a top four finish in the offline round in Showdown 4 in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In the round of 16, Showdown 1 winners Bayer 04 defeated the unbeaten runners-up in the previous round, VfL Bochum, in a thrilling penalty shoot-out. The Landwehr cousins, themselves the current club runners-up, then beat the current club champions and Showdown 3 winners RB Leipzig. It was not until the semi-finals that they lost out to the eventual showdown winners Borussia Mönchengladbach.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Rafaela Borggräfe. Bayer 04 have signed the goalkeeper on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season. Bayer04.de profiles the 25-year-old.
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