Bayer Leverkusen face big names while targeting a direct round‑of‑16 berth

So, after the EL‑Auslosung, Bayer Leverkusen's sport director Simon Rolfes said:

„Wir haben sehr attraktive Gegner bekommen, große Namen sind dabei“

Attractive opponents on the agenda

The Europa‑League‑Ligaphase pits the Werkself against a roster of Gegnern that includes Olympique Marseille, RB Salzburg, Olympique Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb, Besiktas Istanbul, NK Celje, Lech Posen and OFI Kreta. Rolfes highlighted the Duelle with Marseille and Salzburg as especially compelling.

Home advantage at the BayArena

Four of the eight Begegnungen will be hosted at the BayArena, giving Leverkusen a Blick at home fixtures against Marseille, Salzburg, Besiktas and Celje. Rolfes believes the familiar surroundings will help the team convert these Aufgaben into positive Ergebnisse.

Clear target for the group stage

Entering the Ligaphase as a seeded side, Bayer Leverkusen will face eight different clubs. The best eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while the remaining nine to 24 must navigate Play‑offs. Rolfes stressed that Leverkusen will not take the competition leicht; "Wir gehen extrem motiviert in diesen Wettbewerb".

Auswärts, the club travels to face traditional clubs Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb, with additional trips to Poland for Lech Posen and Greece for OFI Kreta. These away duels test the squad’s depth and resolve.

Rolfes, the Sportgeschäftsführer, expressed satisfaction with the Ergebnis of the draw, noting that "große Namen" provide both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase the team's quality.

The group stage kicks off on 16 September, and the final is scheduled for 26 May 2027 in Frankfurt. Leverkusen’s Zielen remain crystal clear: a direct berth in the Achtelfinale without the need for Play‑offs.

The contrast between a calendar filled with high‑profile Gegner and a laser‑focused Ziel underlines Bayer Leverkusen’s ambition to treat the Europa League as a cornerstone of their Saison rather than a peripheral task.