Sven Jablonski has been appointed to oversee this match. The 32-year-old has previously taken charge of 10 games involving Leverkusen, which have produced seven Bayer 04 wins, a draw and two defeats. His assistants are Sascha Thielert and Lasse Koslowski. Daniel Siebert is the VAR.
A total of 871 fans are making the journey from Leverkusen to cheer on the team at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
Leipzig have lost just two of the 12 Bundesliga encounters with the Werkself, scoring in every game. However, Bayer 04 won the last meeting 3-1 in Leipzig last season. But Die Roten Bullen have been very good on their own patch this team, leading the Bundesliga’s home table with 13 points and a +10 goal difference. Marco Rose is the first RB coach to win his first three Bundesliga home games in charge.
However, his fourth game at the helm at the Red Bull Arena is against Leverkusen, against whom the 46-year-old has suffered the most losses (four, same as vs. Leipzig and Bayern) and conceded the most goals (17, same as vs. Bayern) of any team he’s faced in the Bundesliga. His last encounter with the Werkself produced a 5-2 home loss in charge of Borussia Dortmund in February. That’s also the only time one of his teams has conceded five times in a Bundesliga home game.
Our opponents have got back towards their best under Rose, even ending Real Madrid’s 16-game unbeaten run during the week with a 3-2 win in the Champions League. Their domestic form also looks on the up since the Leipzig native took over. They have picked up 11 points in six league games under the 46-year-old. Only Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt (both 12) have earned more points since Matchday 6 than RB. They also boast the division’s best attack in that time (14 goals) after Bayern (15), led by Christopher Nkunku, who leads the division’s pre-matchday scoring chart with eight goals alongside Niclas Füllkrug and Marcus Thuram.
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Another showdown in the race for the Champions League places takes place in Swabia: on Saturday 9 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Werkself visit VfB Stuttgart, who are only behind on goal difference. In his pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about confidence, excitement and mentality.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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