BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Pre-season match, BayArena, Saturday 5 August 2023, 1.30pm CEST (12.30pm BST)
A final pre-season test of the summer schedule awaits West Ham United this Saturday as David Moyes takes his Hammers to Germany for a clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
The Irons head to the North Rhine-Westphalia with a full squad of senior players to choose from after Michail Antonio and Ben Johnson returned to training this week, after their involvement in international duty with Jamaica and England U21s respectively, and will be looking to end the pre-season campaign on a positive note.
Of the five pre-season matches contested already, the Hammers have claimed three wins – against Boreham Wood, A-league team Perth Glory and Tottenham Hotspur – while also drawing with Dagenham & Redbridge and being defeated away to Stade Rennais last weekend.
The sixth will pit the UEFA Europa Conference League holders against a Leverkusen side who, under the management of former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, finished sixth in the Bundesliga last term, as well as reaching the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, and will line-up alongside the Hammers in the Europa League in the upcoming season.
How to get there…
West Ham United fans can reach Leverkusen by taking the Eurostar from London to Bruxelles-Midi, which takes just over two hours, and then catching a train to Cologne Central Station on the Intercity Express rail line, which will again take a little under two hours.
Supporters should note however that, due to railway works, no trains from either Cologne or Dussledorf will be serving Leverkusen station. Attending fans are advised to visit the Deutsche Bahn website if planning a journey from Cologne or Dussledorf is necessary.
Should you wish to fly, both London Stansted and London Heathrow regularly offer flights to Cologne Bonn Airport, which is just a 20 minute drive from Leverkusen’s BayArena. Flights from Stansted to Cologne depart at 08.35am BST and 2.15pm BST on Friday 4 August, while one will also fly from Heathrow on 2.45pm BST.
If you fancy driving, take the Channel Tunnel or ferry across to Calais and follow the A16 onto the E40, which takes you through Ghent, Brussels and past Liege. Join the A4 into Cologne and keep left onto the A1, and follow directions to the BayArena.
Where to stay…
Hotel options around BayArena are limited, and supporters will find much more variety in the Cologne area, which is only a short drive away from Leverkusen, with an abundance of options for visiting supporters.
High-end hotels, complete with spas, are available, as are lower-budget options, all of which are less than 30 minutes away from Bayer Leverkusen’s stadium.
What to do…
Fans visiting Germany for Saturday’s pre-season fixture will not be short of options to keep them busy around Leverkusen and Cologne.
In the immediate vicinity of the BayArena is the Japanischer Garten Leverkusen. Locals are very fond of nature and are not indifferent to present-day environmental problems and, as such place great emphasis on such green spaces. This Japanese garden is considered one of Leverkusen's most beautiful and tranquil locations, and is well worth a visit.
To the north of the BayArena is the Wildpark Reuschenberg, which is home to lynxes, otters, deer, tortoises and birds of prey. Goats and sheep are also available to pet and feed, with visitors able to tour the park in just a couple of hours.
Further afield and into Cologne, there are ample opportunities to view incredible arcitecture. Cologne Cathedral is considered a must-see. The giant Gothic cathedral took over 500 years to finish constructing and was finally completed in 1880. It is widely considered to be Germany's most famous religious structure.
Meanwhile, Museum Ludwig hosts a diverse collection of artwork, from Dali to Warhol, to one of the world's largest Picasso collections, and is globally recognised as one of the planet's leading modern art museums. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is also worth a visit, with the building home to artwork covering every genre from the 13th century through to the 19th century.
Finally, those who are not as interested in art may instead prefer a visit to The Chocolate Museum. The Schokoladenmuseum takes you on a journey through the history of chocolate and indulges your sweet tooth with hand-crafted chocolate.
What’s happened there before…
Saturday’s fixture will mark the first time West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen have played each other and, as such, this weekend will also be the first time the Hammers have been visitors to BayArena.
Originally opened in 1958, the ground has undergone two major renovations – in 1997 and 2009 – and has been home to Bayer Leverkusen since its initial grand opening.
The stadium has also played host to select Germany matches for both the men’s and women’s international sides, and was a venue for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
While this is West Ham’s first visit to play Bayer Leverkusen, the two teams have been linked in other avenues. Mexican striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez joined the Irons from Leverkusen in 2017, while West Ham Technical Director Tim Steidten previously worked for the Bundesliga side.
