
Bayer 04 fans will remember the Finally Red campaign on matchday 33 last season. In the crucial derby at home to FC Köln, where the Werkself stayed up with a 2-2 draw against the neighbours from Cologne, the home end was sea of red.
This season, Bayer 04 are battling at the other end of the table: The Werkself want to return to Europe. And the fans want to repeat the approach to the last four games of the campaign with the Finally Red campaign, originally launched by the NK12 supporters club for the 2009 DFB Cup final.
"Back to Europe – Everyone off to Bremen in red" - NK12, Fan Liaison and Bayer 04 have conscientiously set the wheels in motion early on. The final away fixture is on Saturday 5 May when Werder Bremen entertain Bayer 04 on matchday 33. There are 3,200 standing tickets available to the Werkself. That will only be the case if enough interest is shown early doors for the trip to Bremen.
In order to make sure as many fans as possible travel, NK12 are organising a joint order to make it easy to get hold of match tickets. And you don't have to be a member of NK12. Every fan with a Bayer 04 season ticket and has no outstanding debts can order the tickets from NK12 using their customer reference (= membership number, for example on the season card). NK12 are organising at least two coaches to Bremen (tickets cost 20 Euros). Members of the supporters group registering for coach travel will receive a Finally Red T-shirt free of charge.
Applications are now being taken at bus@nk12.de. Moreover: Bayer 04 drew 0-0 at Bremen 30 years ago in the last four of the UEFA Cup to go through to the final. The Werkself won the first leg 1-0. This May might well provide the opportunity to take the decisive step to returning to Europe next term.
Further information on the Finally Red campaign will be available at a fans forum on Friday 23 February at 19.04 CET at the Stadioneck bar on Bismarckstraße. All fans are welcome to attend.


The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
Show more
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
Show more