It all started with the home game against FC Köln (0-1) in the middle of March when the Werkself played in a cream white special shirt. The limited edition shirt was sold out within a few hours of going on sale. The proceeds from the 2,000 shirts went to Ukraine aid locally in Leverkusen. In cooperation with the City of Leverkusen, the community foundation allocated the funds to regionally active bodies. The joint derby shirt campaign involving Bayer 04, Barmenia and JAKO was just one of many activities where the Werkself made a stand for peace.
In addition, shirts and jackets from the away game at Bayern Munich (1-1), signed by Bayer 04 players Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz, were auctioned. The four-figure proceeds went to the donation fund at the Leverkusen community foundation.
Fan groups and ultras have got involved in recent weeks. Practical donations, including from Bayer 04 members of staff, plus all sorts of relief supplies have been collected and then transported to Ukraine with trucks and vans in several runs.
And the relief effort continues: In the last home game against Hertha Berlin (2-1) the Nordkurve12 Fan club again collected monetary donations in four figure sums to be used for purchasing supplies for Ukraine. On Good Friday, in liaison with the Workers' Samaritan Association (ASB), these will be taken to the Polish Ukrainian border to be used to support medical transport.
Up to now, around 1,000 Ukrainian citizens, mostly women and children, have arrived in Leverkusen. They are being looked after by the City and private individuals. Leverkusen is currently preparing for the arrival of more refugees. The sports hall on Görresstraße, in the immediate vicinity of the BayArena, is to be converted into emergency accommodation. The primary aim is to provide accommodation for the refugees and give them clothing, food and daily essentials but also to ensure integration into kindergarten and school life.
Bayer 04 is organising the integration of Ukrainian schoolchildren into the Bayer 04 Soccer School and the ‘Fußball bewegt’ campaigns. This gives the youngsters the opportunity to get involved in regular physical activity with the Black and Reds.
Bayer 04 Women missed out on victory in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as they were held to a draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Estrella Merino Gonzalez had put the Werkself ahead directly from a corner at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, before Laura Freigang levelled for the visitors as it finished all square between fourth and third on Matchday 7.
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Freiburg have made an impressive start to the season, unbeaten in nine games across all competitions, with eight of them wins. Now the Bundesliga leaders come to the BayArena on Sunday to take on the Werkself, but Julian Schuster’s team will be missing their top scorer. Here’s the lowdown on our next opponent.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without attacking midfielder Martin Terrier for the time being. The Frenchman sustained a muscle injury to his left hamstring yesterday, Thursday 15 October, during the Europa League game against Polish champions Lech Poznan (4–0). Terrier is not expected to be available until late December.
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Following the international break, the Bayer 04 women’s team face their next head-to-head clash in the race for a top spot in the Bundesliga. In Saturday’s home match (14:00 CEST), the fourth-placed side host third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is well aware of the great opportunity this presents for his team.
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