Bayer Leverkusen has learned its opponents for the 2026/27 Europa League group stage. The Bundesliga side will face a challenging mix of European top clubs and surprise packages, as the draw held on Thursday revealed.
Having qualified for the competition by finishing sixth in the previous Bundesliga season with 59 points from 17 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses, Leverkusen was seeded in Pot 1 as a group head. The first matchday of the group stage is scheduled for September 15 and 16.
The Werkself will face eight different opponents in the group phase. The most prominent names include French powerhouse Olympique Marseille and Austrian serial champions RB Salzburg. Also in the group are Turkish giants Besiktas Istanbul, who feature German national team goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, alongside Olympique Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb.
The remaining contenders are NK Celje from Slovenia, Lech Poznan from Poland, and OF Iraklion from the Greek island of Crete. Leverkusen will play four home matches and four away games. The home fixtures are against Marseille, Salzburg, Celje, and Besiktas. The away trips will take them to Lyon, Zagreb, Poznan, and to the island of Crete to face Iraklion.
Preparation for the European campaign runs parallel to the start of the Bundesliga season. In the concluded 2025 season, Leverkusen scored 68 goals and conceded 47, resulting in a positive goal difference of +21. Their recent form before the season ended was mixed, with a DLWWL record. In last season's title race, they finished 30 points behind champions Bayern Munich.
The immediate focus is now on the next competitive fixture. On Friday, August 29, 2026, Leverkusen plays its next away match in the league against SV Elversberg. All upcoming fixtures can be checked on our fixtures page.
The Europa League brings a congested fixture list. For Leverkusen, the European adventure begins in mid-September. The competition's final is set for May 26, 2027, and will be held in Frankfurt. To get there, the team must handle past strong competition in the group stage.
The draw presents Leverkusen with an interesting challenge. With opponents from France, Austria, Turkey, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece, long travels and varied playing styles are on the agenda. While being seeded as a group head offers a theoretical advantage, it guarantees nothing in such a strong field.
A complete overview of the squad available for this double burden can be found in our squad section. The Europa League participation is a major opportunity for Bayer Leverkusen to re-establish itself internationally after a solid Bundesliga finish last season and to convert their positive goal difference into tangible success.
