UCL live blog: Werkself away to Stade Brest

+++23 October, 21.20 CEST+++

Still unbeaten, but the first time without all three points: The Werkself drew 1-1 with Stade Brest on Matchday 3 of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign. Florian Wirtz gave Leverkusen the lead in the away clash in Brittany (24‘), before Pierre Lees-Melou equalised just before the break (39’). Click HERE for the full match report. The Werkself will be returning home tonight and will travel straight from the stadium to the airport. We'll check back with you later this evening after they land!

+++23 October, 18.10 CEST+++

The team have arrived at the stadium. Now it's time to get down to business! You can follow the match as usual here on bayer04.de or in the app in the live blog. Werkself Radio will also be broadcasting live from the ground and the match will be shown live on DAZN. We'll be back with you right here after the game!

+++23 October, 15.40 CEST+++

Now our boys have been out for some fresh air! And they did so in a great mood and in glorious sunshine. Because this time (for once) the activation didn't take the form of football tennis, but a walk in the local area. And the boys weren't on their own: Frimpong and Co. were followed by fans and local residents asking for autographs and selfies, after which the players had lunch together. The bus will set off soon for Guingamp, around 30 minutes away. So, if you want to prepare properly for tonight's match before then, we can recommend our opposition analysis as some good reading material. We'll see you later from the stadium!

+++23 October, 13.23 CEST+++

Today's Youth League match is over. Following a long-range wonder strike from Kerim Alajbegovic, the French side equalised shortly before the break, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. 3,000 spectators attended the match at the Stade Francis-Le Blé. Stand by for the full match report.

+++23 October, 11.48 CEST+++

As promised, we used the time to show you around the town in north-west France where the Werkself are playing. Our discovery tour through Saint Brieuc, where just over 44,000 people currently live, took us past numerous half-timbered houses and the harbour. The Gouët flows into the bay of Saint-Brieuc to the north-east of the district. We also visited the weekly market at the 13th century Saint-Étienne Cathedral and the town's railway station, which is a hub for connections to Paris, Rennes and Brest.

+++23 October, 09.19 CEST+++

Good morning from Saint Brieuc! Matchday at last: at 18.45 CEST this evening, the Werkself take on Stade Brest at the Stade de Roudourou. The team are still having breakfast together before heading off for an activation session. We'll also take you on a tour of the town. Until then, however, it's full focus on the Youth League...

+++22 October, 22.14 CEST+++

Well, have we sparked your excitement: 18,378 is the capacity of this venerable stadium – the Guingamp community has half as many inhabitants. The construction of the stadium is closely connected with the local businessman Noël Le Graët, who was CEO of the En Avant group for many decades. He was also the mayor of Guingamp from 1995 to 2008 and the president of the French Football Association from 2011 to 2023. The now 83-year-old, who earned his money in the food industry, led the club from amateur football to Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France in 2009. And with those wonderful views of tomorrow's venue we say good night. See you tomorrow!

+++22 October, 20.45 CEST+++

At the press conference in front of a large number of German and French members the media, Xabi Alonso said the following: "It will be a difficult game for both sides. Breast have a clear idea of how they want to play football. They have a big hunger and desire to win every game. But the Spaniard also stressed: "But we don't want to change our style of play because of that but instead remain true to ourselves. We want to continue the run we started in Rotterdam. Tomorrow's game is very important. Martin Terrier also sounded a warning about the opponents: "They had an outstanding season last term. This season has been more difficult for them in the league and they've lost four games. But they are performing better in the Champions League. They've rediscovered their former strength there. So we shouldn't underestimate them." The press conference report is HERE.

+++22 October, 19.14 CEST+++

And we don't want to keep you away from the the press conference of our opponents, which took place first this evening. The Stade Brest coach Eric Roy said the following about the Werkself: "Leverkusen are a dynamic and athletic team with a lot of very high individual quality." The former Mainz player Ludovic Ajorque said about the Black and Reds: "It's an incredible team. They only lost one game last season in the Europa League. They have real quality. We will do all we can to win." Xabi Alonso and Martin Terrier will soon follow with their press conference...

+++22 October, 18.22 CEST+++

Touchdown in Saint Brieuc! We could not have imagined a better reception – the sun is shining and there are a huge number of fans at the airport. Of course, the lads make sure they meet every request for an autograph or selfie. The final event of the day follows: The press conference.

+++22 October, 18.03 CEST+++

Checking out the pitch, assessing the stadium, checking the changing rooms. The U19 lads have had their first experience of the Stade Francis-Le Blé. The home ground of Stade Brest has a capacity of over 15,000 and it is being used as a venue for the Youth League match but there probably won't be that many fans there tomorrow when the game kicks off at 11.00 CEST. But the stadium has a certain charm either way. Now it's off to the team hotel for an evening meal together followed by a team meeting.

+++22 October, 16.13 CEST+++

The Youth League group have landed safely in Brest. The U19s enjoyed an uneventful 90-minute flight. Now it is straight to the Stade Francis-Le Blé to get a good look at tomorrow's venue.

+++22 October, 15.32 CEST+++

And departure – for both teams: For the U19 squad the plane has just left Düsseldorf, while the Werkself arrived at Cologne/Bonn airport a few minutes ago. Now everybody goes through security and then in the direction of France. We will be back in contact after landing when we report from the press conference.

+++22 October, 12.47 CEST+++

Greetings from the UHS! Great weather, sunshine and a temperature of 15 degrees for Robert Andrich and Co. to get involved in passing drills in small groups on a competitive basis: The mood is positive and relaxed yet fully focused. The coaching staff give some final directions and vocal advice. On the opposite side of the pitch, the three goalkeepers are working hard between the sticks with goalkeeping coach David Thiel. The excitement is there so nothing else can go wrong!

+++22 October, 11.18 CEST+++

Before the start of today's training session, sporting managing director Simon Rolfes spoke to the media present about the forthcoming match against French side. "We are expecting flexible and above all good opponents who otherwise could not have already secured six points. It will be a tough game as Brest primarily stand out with their ability to resist and uncompromising style of play. They will want to make the game difficult for us and we have to be prepared for that. As in the win against Frankfurt, we have to get stuck into challenges from the start to achieve dominance in our game." He also set out the approach for the away game: "We are definitely going there to win. We want to pick up as many points as possible and at least qualify for the knockout rounds. So three wins to kick-off would be a great start to the Champions League and a big step forwards."

Rolfes was also looking forward to the Youth League game: "We weren't happy with the status quo of our youth results in the past. That this group were runners-up last season and are now taking the next step on the international stage is a great sign and shows our ambition in this area. They have made a brilliant start and we are very happy for this very young group with the majority still being U18s and we hope they can add to that in Brest."

+++22 October, 10.23 CEST+++

The Bayer 04 U19 team are also heading for Brittany. Head coach Sergi Runge held the final pre-match training session at the BayArena and the youth team will make their way to Düsseldorf Airport after a communal lunch for the flight to Brest. On arrival there will be a short inspection of tomorrow's venue – the Stade Francis-Le Blé, the Stade Brest home ground. An evening meal together and short meeting will be the last part of the programme of the day.

We will keep you up-to-date with the match at Stade Brest on the live blog on bayer04.de and the Bayer 04 app. Do you want to get in the mood for the Youth League match kicking off tomorrow at 11.00 CEST? Then check out YouTube or Werkself TV for an interesting documentary on the two away wins at Feyenoord (2-1) and AC Milan (3-1).

+++22 October, 9.58 CEST+++

Today's agenda is as follows: The final pre-match training session for Xabi Alonso's team starts at 12.45 CEST at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. After that there will be a communal lunch at the BayArena before setting off on the team bus in the afternoon for the airport. After arrival Alonso and striker Martin Terrier will make their way to the press conference at the stadium in Guingamp. The team will be staying overnight in the delightful Saint Brieuc. We will be with you all the way.

+++22 October, 9.32 CEST+++

Good morning from Leverkusen! On Wednesday, 23 October (kick-off: 18.45 CEST) we play Stade Brest, who have never before qualified for European competition in their over 100-year club history and are now unbeaten on the European stage after wins against Sturm Graz (2-1) and FC Salzburg (4-0). And: You have read correctly – the trip does not take the players to Brest. Stade Brest cannot play in the UEFA Champions League at their home ground of Stade Francis-Le Blé because of UEFA regulations. In Europe's premier club competition, the team and fans have to make the 100 kilometre journey to Guingamp to the stadium of the second division club En Avant Guingamp. In addition to Leverkusen, Real Madrid will also travel to this small town. Bayer 04 are not the first German team to play a game at Guingamp. Hamburg SV played in the Brittany town in the Europa League qualifiers in 2009. A 3-1 win at the Volkspark was followed by a 5-1 victory at the Stade de Roudourou. A good omen? The North German club made it to the semi-finals of the competition in that season.