
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 European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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