Following the UEFA Europa League final against Atalanta on Wednesday, head coach Xabi Alonso made six changes to his starting line-up. Lukas Hradecky returned in goal instead of Matej Kovac, while Odilon Kossounou, Robert Andrich, Alejandro Grimaldo, Jonas Hofmann and Patrik Schick were also recalled.
With a deafening atmosphere inside Berlin's Olympiastadion, the final also got off to an intense start. Kaiserslautern pressed Bayer 04 high, but the Werkself were not unnerved and were steady in possession. Bayer first threatened through Jeremie Frimpong after 10 minutes, who beat two Lautern players with a strong run down the right, but the Dutchman then went for goal himself instead laying it off into the middle, with goalkeeper Julian Krahl saving. Just four minutes later, Florian Wirtz dribbled into the penalty area but again Krahl was on hand. With the pressure increasing from the Black-and-Reds, Granit Xhaka made it 1-0 shortly after with a curling long-range shot into the corner.
Leverkusen continued to dominate proceedings after the goal, with FCK largely camped in their own half. The next opportunity almost came to Schick in the 26th minute, but the Red Devils' defence cleared just before the ball could reach the Czech from Grimaldo's cross. The German champions were also neat in defence as Kaiserslautern barely appeared in attack. That made the incident shortly before half-time even more surprising: in a challenge on the halfway line, Kossounou, who'd already been booked in the third minute, caught Boris Tomiak on the foot and referee Bastian Dankert gave the defender his marching orders. And so the Werkself went into the dressing room a goal up but a man down.
The second half began with a delay as the game had to be paused due to pyrotechnics being set off. Dankert allowed play to continue in the 50th minute, and Bayer 04 resumed control despite having a man less. Half-time substitutes Amine Adli and Josip Stanisic were a threat straight away, with Adli having a go from distance in the 55th minute and then Stanisic narrowly missing the target with a header from Grimaldo's subsequent corner. After that, the ten-man Werkself went a bit more defensive, allowing Kaiserslautern to see more of the ball. Substitute Ragnar Ache had the best chance up to that point for Friedhelm Funkel's side in the 62nd minute, but Hradecky stretched himself long to tip the low shot behind.
The Black-and-Reds frequently broke up FCK's attacks, such as in the 74th minute, when Wirtz won the ball in his own half before driving forward and then playing in Frimpong, who had run up with him. The wing-back rounded goalkeeper Krahl but then didn't shoot, instead passing into the middle, where no one was stood. The Werkself became more attacking again towards the end of the match and allowed their opponents hardly any relief. Alonso's men created a number of chances, but neither Frimpong or Wirtz could wrap it up with a second goal. After six minutes of stoppage time, it finished 1-0 - Bayer 04 claimed the second DFB Pokal success in the club's history as well as the 2023/24 domestic double!
The "Coming Home" festival at the BayArena provides the crowning finale to this extraordinary 2023/24 season. The Werkself squad will arrive at Cologne/Bonn Airport around 13:30 CEST on Sunday 26 May. They will then travel in the team bus to Morsbroich Castle to sign the city of Leverkusen's Golden Book. From there, the team will travel to the BayArena in a parade of open-top vehicles. The main event then takes place, of course, at the BayArena. Gates open at 12:30, and from 13:30 fans can expect a stage programme with various highlights. Until the Werkself arrive at the BayArena in the late afternoon, fans at the stadium can enjoy the performances and also follow the team's route on the big screens. There's more information on the parade route, the acts and other points HERE.
Match stats:
Kaiserslautern: Krahl - Zimmer (Touré 90'+3), Tomiak, Elvedi, Puchacz - Kaloc, Raschl (Klement 83') - Zolisnki (Tachie 74'), Ritter, Redondo (Opoku 83') - Hanslik (Ache 46')
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong, (Tella 90'+4), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo (Hincapie 85') - Hofmann (Adli 46'), Wirtz (Hlozek 90'+4) - Schick (Stanisic 46')
Goals: 0-1 Xhaka (16')
Yellow cards: Elvedi
Red cards: Kossounou
Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)
Attendance: 74,322 at Berlin's Olympiastadion
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
Show more
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
Show more
It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
Show more
