
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.


A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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