Eight new members in the squad

Some come from small clubs, others move up from the youth section. Coach Michael Skibbe strengthens his squad by bringing in eight new signings in Stefan Kießling, Sergej Barbarez, Karim Haggui, Pirmin Schwegler, Alexander Meyer, Pierre De Wit, Assimou Touré and Benedikt Fernandez. The team does have to get over the departures of Dimitar Berbatov, Jens Nowotny, Clemens Fritz and Jacek Krzynowek.

Mixed start to Bundesliga campaign

A very promising start to the Bundesliga. Bayer 04 beat newly promoted Alemannia Aachen 3-0 in the first game of the season. Then they falter. Defeats against Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt plus draws against VfL Wolfsburg and Hannover 96 follow. The players under coach Michael Skibbe give fans first real treat with a 3-1 win over title challengers Schalke 04. The outstanding player here is Gonzalo Castro who scores a brace.

One-two with the Werkself

Opposition fans like to use use slogans about pills and the Werkself from the Rhine in their stadium chants when they reduce the Bayer 04 team to where they come from. Bayer 04 have taken this ball on with perfect technique and played a one-two: in the new fan merchandise catalogue for the 2006/2007 season these words are worked into the clubs range. A shot of self irony and humour shows Bayer 04 dribbling round the opposition attacks and going onto the front foot themselves.

European tour

Bayer 04 overcome the first hurdle in the UEFA Cup against the Swiss team FC Sion without any real problems: A 0-0 draw in Geneva is followed by a Leverkusen 3-1 victory in the return leg to take the team through to the group stage. After a 1-1 draw in Bruges, a 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham (with the goal scored by Dimitar Berbatov of all people) and a 2-1 defeat in Bucharest, Bayer 04 win the last group match 2-1 against Istanbul. The Werkself go through to the next round in third place.

Sixth place at the winter break

After a bumpy start to the campaign and a strong burst (three wins and a draw from the last four matches) at the end of the first half of the season' Bayer 04 are in sixth place at Christmas.

‘Schnix’ excites everybody

The second half of the season remains patchy. But one player produces consistently outstanding performances: Bernd Schneider. 'Schnix' is in the form of his life, thrills fans with his brilliant technique, and shines as an instigator, worker and provider and he even chips in as a goalscorer in his mature years. The 33-year-old scored wonder goals against Blackburn Rovers (with a backheel) and FC Nürnberg.

René Adler is the new number one

 In the 1-0 win at Schalke, he makes an outstanding Bundesliga debut with incredible reflex saves bringing desperation to the Royal Blues: René Adler, preceded by a reputation of being one of the biggest talents amongst goalkeepers, takes his chance in an impressive way to force out the long term number one keeper Jörg Butt.

 

BayArena redevelopment

Bayer 04 CEO Wolfgang Holzhäuser on 30 March 2007 when he gave the good news: the BayArena will be updated, extended and the capacity increased to over 30,000. The start of building work is planned for 2 November 2007. The Bayer AG board has approved the plans of the subsidiary Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH. The construction works should be completed before the start of the 2009/10 season.

Exit against Osasuna

After strong performances in the UEFA Cup against Premier League club Blackburn Rovers and the top French club RC Lens. The end comes in the quarter-finals against Spanish top-flight side CA Osasuna. The European tour comes to an end.

Qualified for the UEFA Cup again

A 3-2 away win at Hertha Berlin on the penultimate matchday secures a place for Bayer 04 in the UEFA Cup again. In the final game of the season, Bayer 04 beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to end the campaign in fifth place.

RWE sponsorship ends

After seven years of successful cooperation, Bayer 04 and main sponsor RWE go their separate ways at the end of the season with the company wanting to change their priorities terms of image building. "When partners become friends then it must be a special relationship," said Bayer 04 CEO Wolfgang Holzhäuser in commenting on the partnership with RWE.