13.03.2026Fans

'Rudi invites you': Successful premiere with Castro and Kießling

High spirits and previously untold stories: Around 100 Bayer 04 fans packed the Schwadbud fan pub in the east stand of the BayArena on Thursday evening to be there in person for the first instalment of the new series of events entitled “Rudi lädt ein” (Rudi invites you). They listened intently as long-serving Werkself players Gonzalo Castro and Stefan Kießling chatted with record appearance-maker Rüdiger Vollborn and presenter and stadium announcer Tobias Ufer about their many years together at the club, shared amusing anecdotes and revealed dressing room secrets. Anyone who missed the premiere can already look forward to the second instalment – on 12 May, Rudi will be testing the expert knowledge of Bayer 04 fans during a quiz night.

Tobias Ufer, Gonzalo Castro, Stefan Kießling and Rüdiger Vollborn

There was plenty of laughter at this first edition of “Rudi invites you” at the Schwadbud. No wonder, as the wide variety of stories that club representative Stefan Kießling and former Werkself player Gonzalo Castro regaled the guests with were as thrilling as they were amusing. “Kies” described the emotional end to his career from a first-hand perspective and, shortly afterwards, had the room in stitches again with his recollections of his 'phantom goal' from October 2013 against TSG Hoffenheim, when he headed the ball past the post and it slipped through a hole in the side netting and was given as a goal.

The Bayer 04 fans listened intently as the pair spoke with host Rüdiger Vollborn and presenter Tobias Ufer about secrets that had not yet been made public. “You have to be there to experience it,” Vollborn summed up afterwards – and fans of the Werkself will soon have the chance to do just that!

Next event: Quiz night on 12 May

True Werkself experts have something to look forward to with the next edition of “Rudi invites you”. On Tuesday 12 May, Rüdiger Vollborn will be hosting a black and red quiz night with Alexander Palitza, a local quiz host. Fans can register either in teams of four or individually and look forward to all sorts of exciting questions about Bayer 04. More detailed information about the quiz night and registration will be published in good time via the club’s own channels. Anyone interested can become a member HERE right now and benefit from priority booking!

Related News

Rekord: Frauen feiern 14. Saisonsieg in Essen | 24. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 03.05.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 4-0 win at SGS Essen

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.

Ibrahim Maza, Patrik Schick und Nathan Tella beim Torjubel

Bundesliga - 02.05.2026

Werkself move up to fourth place after 4-1 win against RB Leipzig

Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.

Bundesliga - 02.05.2026

Matchday news #B04RBL: All in red for the next top match win

In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.

eSports - 01.05.2026

Bayer 04 represented in Bundesliga Team of the Season again

Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.